The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-05-04
Chemlstry of LIQUORS.


The Neac York World ard the Meiropo-
Titan Board OF Excise, have, in the last
month, directed their attention to chemis
cal examination Of liquors sold in the city.
Samples Of liquor were purchased by the
World and submitted to Prof John G.
Draper, ofthe University Medical College,
one Of the most distinguished chemists in
the city. The result is more than startling
1T is appalling. Poisonous fusel oil,
tannin in large quantities, burnt sugar,
corn spirits, oak bark; these were the
articles that entered into the composition
Of the liquors examined. Of all the speci-
mems Of brandy which were obtained there
was but one which did not contain these
substances in greater or less degree, and
the whiskey was in an equally bad condi-
ton. All the samples of so called pure
liquor were largely diluted, and there was
not single purchase made which, on ans
alyEation, proved to be genuine.
OF tho fusel oil, which was one Of the
chief ingredients in these liquors, DR..
Taylor, in bis Medical Jurisprudence, says:
81 have experienced its effects, and found
them to be giddiness, accompanied with
a feeling Of suffccation and sense of fall
ling and headache followed, which lasted
for half an hour, Two drachms of the oil
killed rabbit in two hours, three drachms
in an hour, half an ounce in quarter of
an hour, and an ounce in four minutes"
But the most startling part ofthe disclosure
IL in the fact that these liquors were
brought at "first class drinking places,
and not at the Conversations and low
whiskey-shops.
The samples reported upon are the best
liquors sold at the best bar rooms in New
York, The liquors obtained were from
the glittering decanters from which fash
ionable gentlemen are in the daily habit
Of taking their toddies, under the deusor
that pure article is insured beyond per.
adventure by the high prices paid. This
exposure sweeps away the delusion, ant
fashionable drinkers may well stand aston
ished and Mortified: for of all the llquol
obtained not a sample is pure--not one
but is poisonous,
Here is an explanation of the diseases
which prevail among the fashionable drink
era Of the day. These adulterated liquor
derange the system, create morbid anC
irresistible craving for stimulants, heat ant
craze the brain, and lead to drunkenness
and death. No one can drink with safety
for the liquor which he sips is p',ison, Al
well as the fusel oil and other in gredienta
and the fashionable drinker is the fashion
able suicide.
The following are some of the samples
METROPOLITAN HOTEL; Brandy, fort,
cents per glass; water sixty-six per cent
alcohol, thirty four. Contains slight trace
Of tannin ana fusel-oil, and a very small
quantity ofsugar. Is an imitation brandy
WhiSkey. twenty-five cts. per glass: water
sixty-eignt per cent; alcohol, thirty-two
Contains very small quantity of tsnnin
sugar, and considerable quantity of fuse
oil.
FIFTH AVENUE HOTEL: Brandy fit,
cents per glass: water sixty four per cent
alcohol thirty>six Contains tanniu, sugar
and fusel.oil. Is an imitation brandy.
Sr. NICHOLAS HOTEL: Brandy, forty
cents per glass; water, seventy per cent
alcohol, thirty. Contains small noun
of tannin, sugar, and fusel oil, with raisi'
and plum flavor Is an imitation brandy
Whiskey, thirty cts per glass; water
seventy per cents alcohol. thirty. Contain
the largest quantity of sugar. little tamil
and large amount of fusel oil.
The above are but specimens Of all
Only one or two samples were foun'
which could be called anywhere nea
''pure." Liquor taken fom what are cal
led slow groceries" proved to be quite a
'pure'' an article as those in the ''respec
table" and fashionable hotels in Broad
way.