Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-04-28
Picked PoisOns.

DHE manufacture OF spurious arucles OF
diet has obtained an enormous extent.
Gould the exact statistics be presented-an
almost impossible task-the aggregate
would seem incredible. The business Is
conducted with as much stealth as other
Illicit branches of industry not even ex-
cepting the distillation of the vilest intoX-
icating liquids 1t embraces nearly every
kind of food in common use, as
well as several of the luxuries. In
stead of diminishing it is rapidly
increasing yearly. The instigating mo-
tive is the prevailing aim of the period--a
haste to get money, honestly, if possible,
but-to get money. In the pursuit of that
purpose almost every other consideration
seems either neglected or abandoned. The
infinitesimal degree of adulteration thus
practiced in former years has increased to
the utmost verge of venture and in many
instances the perilous or poisonous point
has been reached. The plea urged by a
majority of the adulterators, that even if
the ingredients of their treacherous COM
pounds are detrimental in some measure
to health, they are never dangerous, and
that the competition of the spurious arti-
Gle compels the excision of the genuine
from the ordinary customers demand, is,
to say the least, poor satisfaction to q
bedrugged and humbugged public.
The well-informed can pardon the in
PRODUCTION OF poisonous chemicals into the
human system in small doses for medi-
cinal purposes, but never will believe that
the consumption of food thus tampered
with can be anything else than poisonous
Nor can it be conceded that the price JUS
titles the habit, because it frequently aver
ages what the pure metal should command,
supposing it obtainable. Everybody is
aware that certain articles that they con-
stantly purchase and use are adulterated.
Coffee, tea, sugar, spices, tobacco, and
liquors are extensively drugged, and un-
doubtedly greater proportion of preva-
lent diseases and sufferings of our times
result from such improper qualities of
food and drink But there is another vile
article, very generally used and badly tam
pered with, but which heretofore has
seemed to escape public attention.
If judged by its work, it deserves the
most unsparing denunciation. 1t is
spurious vinegar. There is not another
liquid that so nearly rivals Five Points
whisky as this. All classes of people use
it. Men, women and children unwarned
and unsuspectingly consume it with fond
and confident relish. Some of it is as
poisonous as diluted prussic acid. Indeed
its effect upon the stomach is quite similar.
1t 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
tibers of those organs are cauterized,
somewhat as the tongue would be from
contact with lunar -caustic OF vitriol mildly
reduced. A numb, burning, smarting
sensation ensues. The stomach seems
filled with pungent, odorous gases, which
force an exit by hiccoughs, "ahemsI" and
violent spasmodical clearings of the
throat. Indigestion, paralyzation of the
nerves of tastes, piles and other dire ca
lamities are the consequence. One of the
most serious of these is the utter destruc.
ton of the teeth, and the subsequent
softening of the gums. A correspondent
has been seriously injured in eating some
very temptingly prepared and palatable
lambs tongues preserved in this spurious
vinegar. His entire digestive apparatus
was SO affected that it required two
months of medical treatment and careful
nursing to restore him to health.
Another writes, that by the use of some
walnut catsup containing the same execra
| bic ingredient, he was afflicted with yer
| tigo and other difficulties. He had always
In another instance, an entire family, after
eating cold-slaw (cabbage) and oysters
were all taken ill with an acrid gripping
sensation in the bowels, and were suf
ferers for the period ofnearly month after
ward. Several gentlemen complain of the
ruin of their teeth. One of them states
that he had great fondness for pickles
which he "sharpened his appetite with,
at almost every meal. Suddenly his
teeth became loose, the enamel disap
peared, and finally they decayed at the
roots. He had them drawn, and substi
tuted false set, which also met the same
fate, leaving his gums sore and liberated.
Many complain of sore gums and loosl
and tender teeth, without the remotes
idea of the cause. But the thousands O.
lovers of oysters and picked delicaciei
may have occasionally experienced, in {
less degree, the pungent taste of tn;
vinegar, catsup, or other preparations, tn,
subsequent uncomfortable sensations il
the stomach, on the tongue, and even il
the nostrils. The effect of the continued
use Of this false compound is the very
worst arrangement of the entire system
and ultimately, the contraction of chroni,
ailments. The degree to which the con
nection of spurious brands of vinegar i
carried on in New York is enormous
About thirty establishments are thus active
ly engaged Some of these are arrange,
upon an extensive scale; have larg
capital invested, and employ many as
sistants. Tens of thousands of gallons o
this misunderstanding liquid are annual,
manufactured and sold in this city. Their
are various processes in use for its pre-
duction. The cost is small--averagin
/ 49,. %, f1.n,
tiOnately enormous.
Pyroligneous, sulphuric and other acid
are used. The furniture of the factory
quite simple and inexpensive. Huge Gil
cular tanks are placed, one under tn
other, in oblique succession. Three al
generally used. The top-most contains
mass of coarse shavings, pressed tightly il
A solution of poor whisky, diluted waite
and acid, or condemned cider, beer slops c
lees of wine casks, is poured in through
perforated copper plate, which distribute
the fluid like a garden watering-pot. Thi
percolates through the tank, and reachin
the bottom, flows through a spigot, anC
as before, is sprinkled over second tub
full of corn -cObs or other substance, as fin
J shavings, etc, after coursing through thi
flows through another spigot, is agai
distributed mass of charcoal in th
: third tank
This last stage is merely the office (
filtration. The liquid is then drawn OF
into square tank, pumped into anoth'
great reservoir where it is colored TO
red or bleached to pale colof in init
ton of "pure cider vinegar" or "ne'
white wine vinegar" Burnt sugar {
lime is used for the coloring and bleacl
! ing process. 1t is then barreled an
! sold for "pure Connecticut cider vim
! gar" pure Quaker crabapple vinegar" {
I "new white wine vinegar" There a.
S many other methods of vinegar-makiI
q in use. Grocers sometimes use their dirt
f; sugar hogshead refuse, beer slops, etC
: with the lees of their cider barrels Th
C is stirred up, allowed to fermen
! strained, filtered, colored, and sold. 1t
!, not so pernicious in its effects as the 9TH
i kind. A very simple process is the use
" | l.. .l,,s Al,a g.ki