New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-10-01
1rIIE LIQuoRs "a cOMMERCE.


ing 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 merchants of Rome for tamperng with the
Juice of the grape There were distilled liquors ID
those days and many Of the subtle posons atpresent
used 10y lQuOr-mixeTs were unknown, but consider
ing their knowledge and opportunities the adnltera-
tors 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 cooi
in metal vessels by way of improving ITS taste ana
giving il transparency. To this day some OF the
Mediterranean wines are subjected TO similar pro
cess M the wines of Europe are more or less adnl
terated before they leave first hands, and as to
the stuff commonly retailed in this country under
the names of Port Sherry, Madeira, &c, &c, aloe
mice decocion of logwoOd, powder OF catechu' alum
plaster Of paris lead ltharge carbonate of soda oil
of almonds cider and bad rum, may be mentioned
as among their pleasant ingredients.
But il is in the concoction of "spirituous liquors
that the adulteratorS of this generation particularly
excel The tricks OF the Greek and Roman vintnois
were made childs play TO theirs. Stryehmne' sur
phuric acid, sugar of lead ialap opiates and II va
liety of puneent akalies are among the delicacies
that enter into the composition OF ordinary par
room liquors" and some of them consist almost Who'll
w Of pernicious chemicals with small admiXtme OF
uurcctiGed spirit. No wonder, under such circum-
stances that tavern brandy, rum, gin, and whisky
carry death and madness i'll their train No wonder
also that phyyciaas haze lost confluence ~ Tie liquors
az commerce and are AFRAID 10 use them.
Stimulants however, are 0s necessary in medical
practice as febfuges catharlics, OF anodynes' of
alternatives or any other of the recognized specihcs
for disease The great question Is, ca" n P"c SUNNI
laRf be- haaP We say cda We assert that Hostel
ters stomach BittcIs the alcoholic basis OF which IS
the essence of sound Monongahela Rye, Is as P"Fe
sfimHlantos possible for human skill 10 manufacture
1t is however. something more and better than inns
10 Wit a mdiUOusly neglected stunulant, III when
the Qualifying INGREDIENTS are the finest stOmachc,
apclicnt Alternative. and anti-blllons hcfns' roofs,
and gums These vegetable constituents modify and
control the effect of the spitnous elements, ana rem
der the Bitcrs the safest mdcst and most effective
nyigorant at present in use.
1t may be remarked. perhaps that this Is mn easy
thing 10 say-ht how is it 10 he proved To tins
we have only to reply that corrobortve testimony
from high scientific sources, and from citizens oil
GOOD standing in every profession and calling eN-
terdg over period OF more than - years Is AT the
service of whom il may concern Volumes oi TINS
testimony have been published, and there remains
ut least an equal amount as yet imprinted
Tor the melancholy consequences which ensue
from the sale OF mwhOlesolne compounds hearing
the names of the various spn;uous liquors. the
powers that be are in some degree responsible. De
irving as 1t does. large revenue from the impofta-
lion and manufacture Of alcoholic beverages 1t IS
manifestly the duig of the General Government 10
protect the people far possible against the miro
dnction of poiyors into them daily drink still more
imperative is The obligation to shield the sick from
thc peril OF being killed on injured lay pcrnicious
cxcitants administered as medicines lnspec-
ton and taxation ought, IN this matter 90
hand in hand, and IN all cases of adultcra-
ton the adueratcd article instead of being taxed
should I've DESTROYED. Every tiucture and extract con-
taAing. purp0rtlng 10 contain alcohol, Should Oe
examined by competent scientific men and not per
mttcd 10 20 into the market until its purity has been
auhoritativcv certified. The sanitary interests of
the community should be paramount 10 The financial
interests OF the GOycmment-the pnblic health being
Of infinitely more importance than the public
revenue. But no such protective supervision Is cx-
eroisod either by the central power 40 Washington
or by the State Governments. The Internal Revenue
knowing nothing about the whoe,omeness Ca mn
wholcsomeness Of the article upon which it is levied;
the Custom House collectors insist the payment
of tio duties required by law on imported liquors,
lu how much OF how little foreign poison there may
c i'm each cask or Ipuncheon 10 is not their business
to ascertain Congress seems TO have entirely over
looked its function OF public protection IN cgislating
on the liquor question. State Legislatures have been
equally reiniss Many OF them have nicd prohibition
and failed. No OF them, 50 far as we aic aware,
has endeayored TO mitigate The evils of which they
have all complained by insiiuiine ugid system Of
inspection.
We should be dad to see such system adopted as
an experiment. II would at least prevent unprin-
cipled dealers from palmng on, npon the working
classes TO an unlimited cNtent. the icry fluids which
III our iails, poolhOuses, hospitals lnnac asy lnms
and innununbe graves with miserable victims.
We're such regulation Ia force we should have no
need 10 explain the nature and value OF our prcpara-
ton through the public press The report of the in
spccting officers would be oar sufficient vcucher-a
stronger advertisement than any could frame.
Gladly would we welcome the official agents Of the
Goyernmcnt-State or Fcdcral-to our factory, and
challenge their closest scrutiny their sharpcst tests
An inspection law of the kind indicated would if
cOnpetenly administered, be of the most useful
cnactments ever placed statute books II
would be conservative alike OF health and morals.
When The British Government literally rendered
opium TO the Chinese at ihe point of Inc bayOnet-
compelling that unfortunate nation 10 make its cleo
ton between hopeless war and dcmoralizng and
deadly poson--the United States cried shame. We
denounced the conduct of Great Britain unchris-
ian and inhmnan. So ii was; bat Is oar Government
guiltless if it tacitly permits the people over whom
1t should exercise . pateInal jurisdiction, to he
posoncd IN lie dcgkl The deadly properties of opium
are tpouu II cannot be taken unwitingly under
t,a flot IL Sniuethiup else IFS TASTE