New-York tribune., 1869-01-06
THE LIQUORS OF COMMERCE.-PorsosoUs

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| J. STIMULANTs IN SICK RooM.-The vile art
of adulterating alcoholic liquors was practiced
in Greece and Rome more than two centuries
ago, and then, as now, the medical faculty de-
nounced it, and lamented the difficulty of pro-
curing pure and wholesome stimulants for the
sick. Hippocrates called attention to the tricks
of the Athenian winners four centuries before
| the Christian era. Gaen, somewhat later,
sternly rebuked the wine merchants of
Rome for tampering with the juice OF
the grape. There was no distilled liquors in
those days, and many of the subtle posons
at present used by liquor mixers were
unknown !; but considering their knowledge
and opportunities, the adulterators of the
"classic agesn 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 it transparency. To this day
some of the Mediterranean wines are subjected
to "a similar process. All the wines of Europe
are more or less adulterated before they leave
the first hands," and as to the stuff COM
monty retaed in this country under the names
of Port, Sherry Madeira &C., sloe.juice decoc-
plaster of paris, lead litharge, carbonate of
soda, oil of almonds, cider and bad rum, may
be mentioned as among their pleasant in
gradients.
But it is in the cOncOction of "spirituOus Ii
quors" that the adulterators of this generation
particularly excel. The tricks of the Greek and
Roman vintners were mere child's play to theirs.
Strychnine, sulphuric acid, sugar of lead, jalap,
opiates, and a variety of pungent alkalies, are
the delicacies that enter into the composition
of ordinary bar-rOOm liquors, and some of them
consist almost wholly of pernicous chemicals,
with q small admiXtuTe Of unrectlfied spirit.
No wonder, under such circumstances, that
tavern brandy, rum, GIN and whisky, carry
death and madness in their tram. No wonder,
also, that physicians have lost confidence in the
liquors of commerce, and are afraid to use
them Stmuants, however, are as ne
cessary in medical practice as febr-
fuges are in feyers; anodynes, or altera,,
specifics in disease. The great question is, can
a pure stimulant be had We say it can.
We assert that HOstetters Stomach Bitters, the
alcoholic base of which is the essence OF sound
MOnongahca Rye is as pure stlmulant as It
is possible for human skill to manufacture. 1t |
is, however something more and better than |
this, to wit: A judicOusly medcated stimulant |
in which the qualifying ingredients are the |
finest stOmachic aperlent, Alternative, and anti
bilious herbs, roots and gums. These vege
table constituents modify and control the |
effect of the spirltu0us elements, and render
the Bitters the safest, mildest, and most tffec-
tive inyigOrant at present in use. 1t may be
remarked, perhaps. that this IS an easy
thing to say but how IS 1t TO be proved
To this we have only to reply that
c0rrobOratiye testimony from high scientific
sources, and from citizens of good standing In
every profession and calling, extending oyer a
peliod of more than twenty-five years, Is at
the service of whom it may concern. Volumes
of this testimony have been published, and
there remains at least an equal amount as yet
imprinted For the melancholy consequences
which ensue from the sale of unwholesome
compounds bearing the names of the various
some degree responsible. Deriving as 1t
does large revenue from the importation
and manufacture of alcoholic beyer-
ages it is manifestly the duty, OF the
general Government to protect the people
as far as possible against the intro
duetion of poisons into their daily drink.
Still more imperative is the obligation to
shield the sick from the. peril of being
Killed or injured ny pcrnicious excitents, ad-
ministered medicines Inspeotion and tax, taxi
ton ought, in this matter, 10 go hand IN hand:
and in all cases adulterated articles, instead
of being taxed, should be destroyed. Every
tinctuTe and extract containing, or purportlng
TO contain alcohol, should be examined by
competent scientific men. and not permitted TO
90 INTO the market until its purity has been
authoritatvely certified. The sanitary interests
of the community should he paramount to the
financial interests of the Government-the
public health being of infinitely more impor-
tance than the public revenue. But no such
protective supervision is exercised either by the
central power at Washington, or 10y the State
Governments. The Internal Revenue Asses
sors and Collectors simply demand their tax,
knowing nothing about the wholesome
ness or unwhOlesomeness of the articles upon
which it is levied. The Custom-house Col
lectors insist upon payment OF the duties re-
qured by law on imported liquors. but how
much or how little foreign poison there may
be in each cask or puncheOn, 1t Is not their
business 10 ascertain. Congress seems to have
entirely overlooked its connection OF public
protection IN legslating on the hquor
question. State Legislatures have been
equally remiss. Many of them have
tried prohibition and failed. No one of them.
so far rs we are aware has endeavored TO NIT
igatc the evils of which they have all com
planned, 10y insttuting a rigid system OF in
spection We should be glad to such
system adopted as an experiment. 1t would at
least prevent unprincipled dealers from palmlng
oil upon the working classes TO an unlimited
extent the fiery fluids which I'LL our Jalls poor
houses hospitals, lunatlc asylums, and innnm-
cradle graves with miserable victims. Were
such n regulation in force, we should have no
need to explain the nature and value of our
plepaltion through the public press:
The reP2r OF the specng tT6onr oceIT %9d
nent than any we could frame. Gladly would |
we welcome the official agents OF the Govern
or Fcdelal-to our factory, and |
challenge their closest scrutiny, their sharpest |
test. An inspection law of the kind indicated |
would, if completely administered, be one of
the most useful enactmentS ever placed upon |
olr statute books. 1t would be conservative |
alike of both health and morals. When the |
British Government literally rendered opium TO |
he Chinese at the DOiut of the hayOnet-cOm- |