Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-10-01
ANNAPOLIS ND, THURSDAY EVENING, OCTOBER l. 1885,
How They Are Made.

Revelations In regard to the pois-
onous and otherwise harmful proper
ties of the mixtures sold over the bars
of hotels and saloons are so frequent
as barely to excite comment, much
less to attract attention on the score
of novelty. 1t is doubtful, in fact,
whether any amount of Information
on this point, however startling,
would have any deterrent effect upon
confirmed tippiers and sots who are
too far gone in the habit to care about
the nature of the stuff they pour
down their throats as long as it pro-
duces something of the desired effect.
But it is well that the general public
should be kept informed as far as pos
sible of the dangerous character of
the compounds of which they are in
vited to partake by q class of men
who assume to be conducting an hon.
est and respectable business. Such
information is given in detail in an
editorial article in the New York
Times under the heading How Lii
quors are Made.D The Times article
itself is based on book designed to
teach saloon-keepers how they can
adulteFate liquors for themselves, and
thus share the profits which now go
to the wholesale dealers and recti-
fiers. ~
One of the most common of the in
gradients mentioned in these mixtures
is what is known as rum essence. -
This essence is q mixture of sulphuric
acid, black oxide of manganese, pyro-
ligneous acid, acetic ether, butyrie
ether and oil of birch. In preparing
low grades of so-called rye" and
bourbon" whiskies, bourbon oil and
rye oil are used. Bourbon oil is dis
titled from compound of fusel oil,
acetate of potash, sulphuric acid, sui
phate of copper, oxalate of ammonium
and black oxide of manganese. Rye
oil is distilled from q mixture of fusel
oil, 9nanthic ether, chloroform, sui
phuric acid and chlorate of potash.
1t would be impossible to mention
all the various "oils" and ''acids" and
drugs of all sorts used in compound
ing the different grades of whiskey,
bourbon and rye Many of the drugs
are violent poisons. Sulphuric acid,
which is largely used, when swallow
ed in concentrated form destroys all
the tissues it touches. Sulphate of
copper, another favorite bar-roem
drug, is deadly poison, and oxalic
acid is even more violent and instan-
taneous in its action. The oil of Bit
ter almonds, an ingredient of apple
brandy, is well known for its poison
GUS qualities. Other drugs mention
ed are only slow poisons, destroying
the nerves and gradually exhausting
and running the digestive organs In
some of the mixtures only twenty-five
per cent. of genuine spirits is used,
the remainder being prune juice, fusel
oil, etc. A receipt is given for MAX
ing blackberry brandy, ga superior
article, +" without trace of blackberry
in it The bar-keeper who under
stands bis profession" thoroughly is
enabled to place before bis customers
Scotch whiskey, Holland gin, French
brandy, Jamaica rum or any other
drink with q foreign name that may
suit their taste or fancy, simply by
exporting" oils ard acids from the
nearest drug store. OF course the
chief object Of all this adulteration is
to increase the profits. A skilfnl COM
binatiOn Of drugs. with . slight dash
of real spirits, costing altogether from
$I.5O to 81 a gallon. is retailed out so
as to net the dealer profit of Sc and
s., or four and five hundred per cent.
The author Of the book from which
this interesting information is taken
says the methods and receipts are all
given by one who has been in that
line Of business for many years, and
they are substantially those in general
uen af the nrncanf time