The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1871-04-06

and liquors. are extensively drugged, and
undoubtedly greater portion Of the pre-
yalent diseases and suGerings Of our times
result from such improper qualities Of
food and drink. But there is another vile
article, very generally used and badly
tempered with, but which heretofore has
seemed to escape public attention. II
Judged by It's work, 1t deserves the most
uusparing denunciation. II e spurious
vinegar. There is not another liquid that
80 nearly rivals Five Points whisky as
this, All Glasses of people use i. 1Ien,
women and children unwarned and IN.
stIsnectinply consume it with fond and
Confident relish. Some Of 1t Is Is poison
as diluted prusic acid. Indeed, It's effects
upon the stomach are quite similar. It
attacks the fine, sensitive coating Of the
bowels, and corrodes the intestines
as any acid will rust iron. The
effect is like that Of oxidation Of
metals. The delicate fbres Of these or
gans are cautGrized, somewhat as the
tongue would be from contact with lunar
caustlc, or vitriol mildly reduced. A
numb, burning, smarting sensation enSues.
The stomach seems filled with pungent,
odorous gases, which force an exit by
hiccougbs, "ahemsg' and violent spas.
medical cleariDgs Of the throat 1ndiges-
ton, paralyzatiOn Of the nerves Of taste,
piles and other dire caIamitics are the
consequence. One Of the most serious of
these Is the utter destruction Of the teeth,
and the subsequent sotlening Of the gums,
A correspondent has been seriously In
iured in eating some very tempting ly pre-.
pared and palatable lambs tongues pre-.
served In this spurious vinegar. His en-.
tire digestive apparatus was so affected
that il required two months Of medical
treatment and careful nursing to restore
HIM 10 health. at-..S 70
Another writes, that by the use Of some
walnut catsup containing the same execra.
6le ingredients, he was afflicted with
vertigo and other difficulties He had al.
wayspreviously enjoyed the most robust
health. In another instance, IN entire
family after eating cold slaw (cabbage)
and oysters, were all taken. Ill with acrid
gripping sensation in the bowels, and were
sufferers for the period Of nearly month
afterWard. Several gentlemen complain
Of the ruin Of their teeth. One OF them
states that he had q great fondness for
pickles, which he "sharpOned his appetite
with" OF almost every meal. Suddenly
bis teeth became loose, the enamel disap-
peared, and finally they decayed 10 the
roots. He had them drawn, and substl-
tuted q false set, which also met the same
fate, leaving his gums sore and liberated.
Many complain ofsore gums and loose
and tender teeth, without the remotest
idea OF the cause. But the thousands Of
lovers of oysters and picked delicacles
may have occasionally experienced, In q
less degree, the pungent taste OF the vine
gar, calsup, or other preparations, the
subsequent uncomfortable sensations in
the stomach, on the tongue, and even In
the nostrlls. The effect oil the continued
use of this false compound Is the very
worst arrangement OF the entire system,
and, ultimately, the contraction Of chron-
ic ailments. The degree to which the
concoctiOn Of spurious brands Of vinegar
Is carried on In New York Is enormous.
About thirty establishments are thus &C.
lively engaged. Some Of these are ar.
ranged upon IN extensive scale; have
capital invested, and employ many assist
ants. Tens Of thousands OF gallons Of this
Misunderstanding liquid are annually
manufactured and sold In this CITY, There
are various processes in use for lis pro.
duction. The cost is small-avCraging
ten cents per gallon-and the profit pro.
portiOnately enormous. .
Pyrolgeneous, sulphuric and other
acids arc used. The furniture Of the fac.
tory Is quite simple and inexpensive.
Huge circular tanks are placed one under
the other in obllque succession. Three
are generally used. The topmost contain.
ing a mass OF coarse shavings, pressed
tightly in. A solution Of poor whisky,
diluted water and acid, or condemned
cider, beer slops, or lees Of wine casks, Is
poured through perforated copper plate,
which distributes the fluid like q garden
watering pot. This percolates through
the tank, and reaching the bottom, flows
through spigot, and, as before, Is
sprinkled over q second tub-Eull Of corn
cobs OF or other substance, as fine shay.
ings, ETC.; alter coursing through this,
flows through another spigot, and Is again
distributed over mass Of charcoal In the
third tank. .rlrl. "a.
The Inst stage Is merely the Office Of
filtration. The liquid Is then drawn out
into a square tank, pumped into another
great reservoir, where Il Is colored to q
red or bleaChed to q pale color in imita.
ton OF "purc cider vinegar" or NEW
white vinegar" Burnt sugar or lime Is
used for the coloring and bleaching pro-
cess. 1t Is then 6arreled and sold for
"purc Connecticut cider vinegar" "purc
Quaker crab apple vinegar" or new
white wine vinegar" There arc many
other methods OF vinegar making in use.
Grocers sometimes use their dirty sugar
hogsheads, refuse beer slops, ETC., with
the lees Of their cider barrels. This Is
stirred up, allowed to ferment, strained.
filtered, cOlored and sold. It Is not as
pernlclous in It's effect as the
oIneC KIM. y very AmpLe pEuCeS
Is tho use OF two hogSheads, one
under the other. The upper ono is pack.
ed with shayings and charred beechwood,
spruce and pine chips. Whisky and water
Is filtered through this mass, and into the
lower receptacle, where 1t Is clarified by
charcoal. The same coloring or bleaching
process, as before mentioned, Is used.
This Is generally very pungent, acrid
and deleterious compound. Pure vine
gar, made from apple cider and wine, Is
very rare, and many honest and hon0ra-
BILE grocers, restaurant and hotel keepers,
and other dealers, are deceived INTO pIr.
chasing it. A great deal Is thus as limo.
Gently sold, as L Is also used, for the gen.
ulne article.
The quantity marketed for table use is
not as large as that sold for picking pur.
poses Pickles, catsup, chow.chow and
all condiments are made up with "Hharp"
vinegar as a principal Ingredient. Some
of these nrenaFations ehter the interior