The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-06-03

V 1
There was a proposition offered In
the last Legislature, says the Louisville
Journal, to appoint chemists as inspec-
tors Of all liquors, which was voted
down. on the superstition that our pres
ent inspection laws were stringent
enough, and sufficiently protective. II
properly enforced. Chapter %, article
3. and section s of the Revised Statutes
provide heavy penalties for the adult
teration OF wine or liquor; makes 1t
the duty Of an inspector to brand casks
containing such authorizations, . con-
demned for impurity,,' and gives him
the power to subject suspected adul-
terations to chemical analysis. Why
these important legal provisions are
not carried out, it is difficult to say.
but the systematic adulteration Of
liquors, sold as pure, and the number
of poisonous ingredients used In their
concoction. demand the attention OF the
officers Of the law.
The New York Commercial AdUer-
fiser says an expert chemist In that
city bought of an importer bottle Of
what was called genuine champagne
which proved to contain quarter Of
an ounce Of sugar OF lead. The same
gentleman Analysed sixteen samples
OF wine port, sherry and Madeira-to
which not one drop of the Juice OF the
grape was found. The base of the port
wine was diluted sulphuric acid, col
ored with elderberry juice, with alum,
sugar and neutral spirits. The basis
Of the sherry wine was pale malt,
sulplturic acid from bitter almonds,
with percentage of alcoholic spirits
from brandy. The Madeira wine was
decoction of hops, sllphuric acid,
honey, Jamaica spirits, etc.
During 1866 the Legislature of Ohio
appointed DIR. Hiram Cox, Of Cincinnati,
chemical Inspector Of liquors for that
state, and since that period he has
examined six hundred lots Of different
varieties, and found 33 per cent Of the
whole, composed Of base and poisonous
ingredients. Sulphuric and nitric acids.
caustic potassa. brucine and other
deadly poisons he has found entering
into them as component parts. He has
analysed liquors In the presence OF
courts. and caused jurors on the spot
to condemn vendors. To such terrible
extent has this Borgia business been
carried I'm New York that DIR. Cox has
been requested to make a lecture there
giving the processes and results Of his
three years experience. and We expect
that his revelations will be startling.
1t will surprise some readers t.
learn that the foregoing IS taken from
the Banner Of April 20. 1860. Published
elsewhere lii this issue there Is III
article under the heading g Invent,
Years Bartender" which deals witt
the evils OF the trade during recen
years. In both the booze business Il
branded as nefarious. The distiller, tn,
brewer and the bartender are picturet
,as red handed criminals for It i
shown that they practiced the poison
ing of mankind for gain.
We make no apology for devOtin,
SO much space in this issue to thes'
two articles. for the whiskey evil i
not dead. 1t is backed BY vast wealth
and maintains well organized l0hhie'
ut the national and state capitals dur
ing the season of legislative gather
ings. These lobbies are comprised o.
well informed men of intelligence, ant
they are paid to exert every effort t,
nee that legislation is passed tina
favors the distiller. the brewer and tn,
saloon keeper.
What we are after here Is not alon,
to impress upon the reading public o.
Rossier Parish the evils Of the whiske.
business and what the open salOOI
leads up to. but rather to point on
that nation was being poisoned II
the name of strong drink and greed
Again read for yourself and in eacl
article-that of sirty years ago AM
that of to-day-see the reference to tn,
adding of Ingredients for fiayoring ant
coloring that slowly poison the unfor
tunate drinker. Should the open salool
ever have been legalixed? VIII It's re
turn ever be permitted? Surely
should not be.
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