The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-04-14

The Washington Star has recent
~ made an admirable survey. Of The
so-called bootleg trade IN the Ma
tons Capital. While this trade ~
only fraction Of the trade IN al
coholic liquors before prohibition,
and perhaps no greater than the
illicit trade In those days, i un-
doubtedly constitutes q great men
ace. However, the quality Of the
wares sold IL such that only those
absolutely uniformed or Who are
impelled by an ungovernable nppe-
title are willing TO run the risk OF
death or blindness by purchasing.
The Star says: "The closing up
and Tightening Of legal locks on
distilleries and warehouses-whence
formerly came much Of the bootleg
product--and the perfection Of a
chccking-up system which makes
the forged permit method Of with
drawing warehouse liquor almost
impossible, have caused the bootleg
gers TO turn 10 deadly poison when
they prepare for their customers oy
the addition Of labels, etc, indlca-
ting that they are oldtime standard
Dieaie 'N"'''
further:
"The poisonous character Of most
Of this so-called liquor IS disclosed
eD by immediate effects Ike that
of Knockout drops on many I'M
bibers who are taken 70 the police
station or are at their homes OF
in hospitals fighting this poison;
(2) by reports from the hospitals,
and 60 from analysis Of typica!
samples Of these connections.
Results Of Analyses
"A general summary Of the an
alvses of typical bootleg liquor made
recently by the National Vaccine
and Antitoxin institute at 1913 Y
I Street follows:
"Of nine samples submitted, four
had heavy traces of fusel oil; two
I had a trace Of this poisonous ele-
/ ment and one had "A faint trace OF
/ il. making fusel oil n per cent
/ favorite in the entire group.
Three Of the nine--one-third--
/ had wood alcohol, which was un-
| covered in special tests for this
I substance. One--it was supposed
to be Haig & Haig whisky--had bay
/ rum in addition 90 the wood alco-
I hol and heavy trace Of fusel oil
Formsldchydc Discovered
I'm another connection there were
I formaldehyde traces found IN the
/ test. This substance, IL Is believed,
| Is used for the purpose Of preserving
coloring matter intact and prevent
ing settling Of sediment.
-Four Of the connections had ar
I tificial colorinR matter present. One
I Of the samples--supposed Italian
/ vermouth---was found TO contain 80
much sugar that Il defied analysis
I By the quick test system. II had
no alcohol and was heavier than
water But there WAS a large amount
/ of artificial coloring matter and
sugar. and flavoring oils had been
added.
Poison Sold by Society Agent
Sample No. was also mas
querading Hang & Haig product
j from the valise Of the Bookkeeping
motorist, also known as the society
bootlegger
The only test made for injurious
/ contents which registered negative
was for artificial coloring matter.
/ There was positive mark for
/ fusel oil, positive for wood alcohol
and positive for bay rum.
BootleEger's poisons Threaten Sight,
Life and Reason
According 20 chemical experts
Of the prohibition enforcement bu-
reau, fusel oil In sufficient quantl-
ties or taken steadily in even small
quantities results in a super-power-
! hi stimulation Of the organic parts
Of the body. which causes the re-
active speedy decay Of these or
gans. II specializes upon nervous