Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-15
CALL FOR PURE WHISKY.

DR.. Christy After a Law to Prevent Adulter-
niIon-He Has Interested Senators
Mitchell and FauIkner-Physicians VIII
Not Prescribe IL for InvnIIds.
DR.. S. S. Christy. of Penn avenue, has
received aletter from Senator John Mitchell ,
of Oregon, in reply to request made by the
doctor, in regard to the adulteration of
wines, liquors and other beverages. Several
weeks ago, tie doctor who has always taken
an active part in the efforts to remedy this
abuse, wrote to Senator Mitchell, who is a
close personal friend. asking him to use his
influence with the Committee on Pure Foods
and Drugs, and secure the passage Of law
making it a misdemeanor to adulterate
liquors. Senator Mitchell SAYS he turned
the letter over to Senator Faulkner, who is
chairman of the committee. The last named
Senator replied that he would do everything
he could to have such law enacted.
A DISPATCH reporter called on DR..
Christy yesterday and questioned him in
regard to the matter. The doctor said:
Before President Arthur died he was
interested in this question and promised me
he would do all he could to have such a law
made and enforced. He had several talks
Ject, and from the latter had secured much
data as to the operations of the law in Ger
many. When the President died the matter,
of course, was dropped by US. 1 have now
taken it up again with Senator Mitchell.
People do not understand the extent of
the adulteration business. You cannot buy
any pure liquors in this city, and everything
OF an alcoholic nature put into medicines
nowadays is adulterated. have lately re-
ceived notice that Cognac brandy, which is
supposed to be pure, is now made from rot
gut whisky. Pure whisky cannot be pur-
chased for less than IS per gallon, and
the fact that the ordinary stuff sold
over counter costs 15 cents per
drink, shows that it is not pure. When one
takes drink OF the latter, he has craving
taste for more. In less than five minutes
after taking the drink. the effect of the
liquor dies out. The appetite Graves
more and more until the system becomes
diseased. Then it is called deIirium tre-
mems, which is the cause of so much misery
and many deaths.
II remember the time when pure whisky
was sold. DelirIum tremens was unknown
in those days. The whisky did not stimu-
late the blood, as the stuff now being sold
does. 1 have seen men in the harvest field
on hot day drink tin cup full of whisky
without any evil effects afterward. 1t did
not make them reel and stagger, out was
beneficial in its effects. have seen whisky
lately, sold at high prices, which 1 would
be afraid to prescribe to be taken in moder-
ate quantities. The same can be said of
beer. There is no lager beer in this country,
and an analyses of the slop now being sold
for beer will show it to be heavily adulter-
ated. If we had pure beer and whisky
there would not be so much business done
in criminal courts"
DR.. Christy favors law in this country
similar to the one in Germany. He wants
a chemist and inspector appointed in each
district to analyze all liquors made and sold
in this country. II the stuff is bad it is con-
demned. The doctor is one of the best
known men in the oil country. He left this
city in the spring Of 1860, when the first we'll
was struck in the vicinity of Oil City. He
opened the first drug store and was the first
Mayor of that town.