The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-06-06

The PERILs OF SHERRY. sud.
den death in England of several we'll
known persons, from moderate drink
ing OF Sherry wine, has caused an in
vestigahon Of this potation, which is
the favorite beverage of well.to-d
Britishers. The result of the analysis
is startling, and adds another arRu.
ment to the many advanced by temper
ance societies why total abstinence is
the only safe guard. It has been sat.
isfactorily ascertained that the Sherry
OF commerce, even the best brands, is
strongly mixed with alcohol and
brandy. even 10 the extent of forty per
cent The alcohol used ip this traiflc
is artiiciully mixed and filtered. Iu
this way it does infinite damage 70 the
stomach and brain. The nervous sys-
tenn is disordered, and rheumatism,
govt. indigestion and paralysis are the
Inevitable sequences nt frequent stimu.
latlon. The New York Times fur.
nishcs some interesting statistics ON
these points, aud, moro particularly,
calls attention to law case, before
Judge Biatchford. which exposed the
frauds OF the business in ~ suggestive
aud striking way 1t suys that, from
evidence furnished the court, ~, wine
could be- manufactured out of various
poor wines and artificial substances,
strongly mixed also with aI,:ohul,
which not even IN expert couli dis
tinguish from the pure. original wine,
aud yet that it would only cost dol
lar gallon; while genuine Sherry,
even III Spain, costs four dollars III
gold per gallon. The power os skilled
adulterators III initiating all natural
odors nnd havu's is Que OF the re-
marknble things III chemistry. Even
so subtle IL hlvor ps that Of The ess.u-
tial oil in old Sherry. which resembles
the flavor Of walnnts, eau bu counter.
ieited SO thut no expert could discover
the falsity Of it,"
The deductions drawn are, that it il
extremely doubtful if either Euginnd
or the United States can boast oi The
possession OF genuine article Of
Sherry; and that all who drink habitn-
ally branded and mixed wines are con-
stantly in danger of serious injury, il
not death, from affections Of tue sto-
macli, brain or nerves.
# these things be true of snerry,
to the fiery compounds that we know
as whiskey aud gin! It muy be that
some stomachs, by the law of aasimi-
latlon, become accustomed to puisous;
but the vast majority of people who
indulge themselves are tho victims of
deadly drugs loug before the putiont
and muchendnrlug stomach eau BIZ.
come morbidly accustomed to their
visitations aud temporarily proof
against their ravages. How much to
be pitied, then. are those of our fell
low.creatures who cannot altogether
deny themselves these corrupted and
corrupting draughts. How happy they
who are satisfied with sparkling water
as beverage, and crave nothing else
for their thirst!
The mental and corpOreal injury
done by adultcruted spirits is wide.
spread and before AL eyes. The ca
lamitv entailed upon mans moral Ma
ture Is almost beyond the power Of
language to describe In adequate terms.
If you think this too strongly drawn,
look around you. How many house
holds are there without the skeleton in
their closet? How many memories are
Tree from it's pollution? How mauy
Srave-yards are innocent OF the victims
vi drink?
The Times advises that if any man
thinks it wise aud best to use VINE at
table, let that wine be claret or some
other light wine. We dare say. claret
Is less hnrtful than other drinks; but
III Investigation might show that the
no1ious quality differed only in de-.
gree. A man is justified. in these
times, in speaking we'll Of good and
pure liquor, if only on the ground that
we may not revile the dend.