Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-04-27
NUMBER "a.
Picked POisons.

Could 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-
lcating 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-
i've Is the prevailing aim of the period-a
but-to get money. In the pursuit of that
purpose almost every other consideration
seems either neglected or abandoned. The
lnnnltesimal degree of adulteration thus
practlced 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
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,
10 say the least, poor satisfaction to a
bedrugged and humbugged public
The well-informed can pardon the in
PRODUCTION OF poisonous chemicals into the
human system in small doses for medi-
clnal 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
tines the habit, because it frequently aver
ages what the pure metal should command,
supposlng 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 dcuunciation. II is
spurious vinegar. There is not another
liquid that SO nearly rivals Five Points
whisky as this. All classes of people use
1t. 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
fibers of those organs are cauterized,
somewhat as the tongue would be from
contact with lunar-caustic or vitricl mildly
reduced. A numb, burning, smarting
sensation ensues. The stomach seems
filled with pungent, odorous gases, which
force an exit by hiccoughs, "ahemsl" and
violent spasmodical clearings of the
81
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. Bis 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 ver-
tigo and other difficulties. He had always
previously enjoyed the most robust health.
In another instance, an entire family, after
eating cold-slaw (cabbage) and oysters
were all taken i'll 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 a 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 loose
and tender teeth, without the remotest
idea of the cause. But the thousands OF
lovers of oysters and picked delicacies
may have occasionally experienced, in q
less degree, the pungent taste of the
vinegar, catsup, or other preparations, the
subsequent uncomfortable sensations in
the stomach, on the tongue, and even In
the nostTils. The effect of the continued
use of this false compound is the very
worst arrangement of the entire system
and ultimately, the contraction of chronic
ailments. The degree to which the con
nection of spurious brands of vinegar ii
carried on in New York is enormous
About thirty establishments are thus active
ly engaged. Some of these are arranged
upon an extensive scale; have larg'
capital invested, and employ many as
sistants. Tens of thousands of gallons o.
this notwithstanding liquid are annually
manufactured and sold in this city. Their
are various processes in use for its pro
duction. The cost is small--averaginl
ten cents per gallon-and the profit popor
tionately enormous.
Pyroligneous, sulphuric and other acid
are used. The furniture OF the factory i
quite simple and inexpensive. Huge cir
cular tanks are placed, one under th'
other, in oblique succession. Three ar
generally used. The top-most contains
mass of coarse shavings, pressed tightly in
A solution of poor whisky, diluted waite
and acid, or condemned cider, beer slops o.
lees of wine casks, is poured in through I
perforated copper plate, which distribute
the fluid like garden watering-pot. Thi
percolates through the tank, and reachin!
the bottom, flows through spigot, and
as before, is sprinkled over a second tub
full of corn-cobs or other substance, as fin
shavings, etc after coursing through this
flows through another spigot, is agail
distributed over a mass of charcoal in tn
third tank.
This last stage is merely the Office o
filtration. The LIQUID is then drawn ou
into a square tank, pumped into anothe
great reservoir where it is colored TO ;
red or bleached to a pale color in imita
ton of "pure cider vinegar" or "nev
white wine vinegar" Burnt sugar o
lime is used for the coloring and bleach
ing process. 1t is then barreled ant
sold for "pure Connecticut cider vine
gar" pure Quaker crabapple vinegar" o
"new white wine vinegar" There ar
MANY other methods of vinegar-makin
in use. Grocers sometimes use their dirt,
sugar hogshead refuse, beer slops, etc
with the lees of their cider barrels Thi
is stirred up, allowed to ferment
strained, filtered, colored, and sold 1t
not so pernicious in its effects as the othe
kind. A very simple process is the use @
two hogsheads, one under the other. Tn
upper one is packed with shavings an'
charred beechwood, spruce and pine chips
Whisky and water is filtered through thi
mass, and into the lower receptacle, wher
it is clarified by charcoal. The same col
oring or bleaching process, as before men
toned, is used. This is generally yer,
. | ranncrent acrid and deleteriOus cOmpOunC