New-York tribune., 1868-04-08
THE t.ioUoRs OF C0MERcE.


two centuries ago, and then, as now, the Med
ical Faculty denounced IT, and fsmented the
difficulty of procuring pure and wholesome
stimulants for the sick. Hippocrates called
attention TO the tricks of the Athenian winners
four centuries before the Christian era. Galen,
somewhat later, sternly rebuked the wine mer-
chants of Rome for tampering with the juice
of the crane, There were no distilled liquors
in those days, and many Of the subtle
poisons at present used by liquor mixers
were unknown; but considering their knowl-
edge and opportunities, the aduiterators
of the "classic ages' showed considerable
adroitness in their nefarious calling. Lead,
lime, gypsum, and sea water were put into
new wine by the Roman dealers, and it was
boiled and left to cool in metal vessels by way
of improving its taste and giving 1t trans
parency. TO this day some of the Mediter-
ranean wines are subjected to a similar pro-
cess. All the wines of Europe are more or less
aduterated before they leave " first hands,"
and as to the stuff commonly retailed in this
country under the name of Port, Sherry,
Madeira, &C., &C., sloe-juice, decOction oil log
wood, powder Of catecheu, alum, plaster oil
paris, lead, litharge, carbonate Of soda, oil OF
almonds, cider, and bad rum, may be men
toned as among their pleasant ingredients.
But it is in the connection of "spintuous
liquors. that the adulteratOrs of this genera
ton particularly excel. The tricks of the Greek
and Roman winners were mere child's play to
theirs. Strychnine, sulphuric acid, sugar Oh
lead, ialap, opiates, and variety OF pungent
alkalies, are among the delicacies that enter
into the composition of ordinary "bar-roOm
liquors." and some of them consist almost
wholly of pernicious chemicals with small
admxture of uDrectiiied spirit. No wonder,
under such circumstances, that tavern brandy,
rum, gin, and whisky carry death and madness
in their train. No wonder, also, that physi-
clans hare lost confidence az He liquors OF COM
merce and are afraid TO use Hem Stlmulants,
however, are as necessary in medical practice
ms febrifuges, OF cathartics, or anodynes, or
Alternatives or any other of the recognized
specified diseases. The great question is, can
a pure stimulant be hadg We say it can. We
assert that HOsTETTER's STOMACH BuTERs, the
alcoholic basis of which is the essence Of sound
Monongahela Rye, is as pure a stimulant as it
is possible for human skill TO manufacture. 1t
is, however, something more and better than
this TO wit \ judicious medlcated stimnlant'
in which the qualifying ingredients are the
finest stOmachic, aperent, Alternative ana anu
bilious herbs, roots, and gums Ihese Vegeta-
bic constituents modify and control the erect
of the spiriuous elements, and render the
Bitters the safest, mildest and most eiectlVe
nvigorant nc present in use. 1t may DC
remarked perhaps, that this Is an easy thing
to sav-but how is il 10 be proved To this we
have only to reply that couobOratlye testimony
from high scientific sources, and from cltHens
of good standing in every profession and call
ing extending over period OF more than
twenty-five wears, is mt the service OF whom 1t
may concern. Volumes of this testimony have
been published, aud there remains ut least an
equal amount as yet imprinted. For the mel
ancholy consequences which ensue 1fOm the
sale of unwhOlesOme compounds bearing the
names OF the various spirituouS liquors, the
powers that be are in some degree responsible.
Deriving. rs it does, large revenue trom
the importation and manufacture of alcoholic
beverages it is manifestly the DUTY OF the
General Government 10 protect the people as
far rs possible against the Introduction OF
PoIsoNs into their daily drink Still more i'm
perative is the obligation TO shield the SICK
from the peril of being. killed or injured by
pernicous excitants, administered as MEDICINES
Inspection and taxation ought, IN TINS matter,
to go hand in hand, and, IN all cases OF adulc
trration the adulteTated articles, instead OF
being taxed, should be DEsrRoYED. Every
tincture and extract containing, or puIportmg
petent scientific men, and not permitted to
90 into the market until its purity has been
outboritatiyely certified. The sanitary inter-
ests of the community should be paramount to
the financial interests of the Goyenment-the
public health being of infinitely more import
ance than the public revenue. But no such
nrotective supervision is exercised either by the
central mower at Washington or by the State
Governments. The Internal Revenue Assess
ors and Collectors simply demand their tax,
IL rI.,ln1 on
knowing nothing about the wholeSolehesSS OF
Embellishments of the articles upon which it
is levied; the CustomHO Collectors insist on
payment of the duties acquired by law on I'M
norted liquors. but how much or how little
foreign poison there may he i'll each cask OF
puncheOn, it is not their business TO ascertain.
Congress seems TO have entirely overlooked Its
function of public protection III leglslatng on
the Gouor question. State Legislatures have
been equally remiss. Many OF them nave trled
prohibition. and failed. No one OF them, SO lar
rs we are aware, has endcayOred TO mitigate the
evils of which they have all complained, by
irstituting n rigid system of inspection. We
.Ln1ld Inc clad TO see such system adopted
rs an experiment. 1t would at least prevent
unpincipled dealers from palmlng on upon
the working classes, to an unlimited extent,
he fiery fluids which fill our jails, pOor-houses,
hospitais lunatic asylums, and lnnumerable
GRAVES with miserable victims. Were such
regulation in force, we should have no need 10
eynIoin the nature and value of our prepaTa-
tion through the public press. The report OF
the inspecting officers would be our sufficient
vouchers stronger advertisement than any
we could frame. Gladly would we welcome the
official agents of the GOvemment-State or
FEDERAL to our factory, and challenge
their closest scrutiny their sharpest test: An
irsnection law of the kind indicated would, if
competently administered, be one of the most
useful enactmentS ever placed upon our statute
books. 1t would be Conservative alike OF both
health and morals When the British Govern
ment literally rendered opium TO the Chinese at
the point of the bayOnet-compelllng that un-
fortunate nation to make its election between