HOW WINE AND BRANDY ARE DOCTORED.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), 15 February 1883, Page 3

HOW WINE AND BRANDY ARE DOCTORED.

From recent revelations made by tlio Hon. George Gitt'ord, consul of tlie United States at La Eoelielle, lYauce, who lias lately made a tour of the wine-producing districts, concerning the manufacture and adulteration of I.)randy and other silculiolLc liquors in I*'ranee, and which arc exported to this country under the name, of '• cognac.'' etc., tliere -would seem, to be urgent need of prompt intervention on the part <>f the Government of the United States, in the interest of the public health, to prohibit all such liquor importation. The proprietors of the vineyards, each of whom lias a still. have, saysMr Gifiord, '• become extremely slcilful in the manipulation of the alcohol and the drugs of which the brandy of today is made"'' It was the testimony of a priest inhabiting- ;i little village in the "Grand Champagne* cuimtry. and perfectly conversant with the subject, that said "there is no business in the world in which fraud is more universal or more .suceu.vful." Mr Oiftord describes a che.ip, drugged brandy, manufactured by the vineyard proprietors, which "i- making >eriou~ ravages in France, especially among the working classes.' , and which i> also being sent to this country. •* lt< <-l<Mv:?«jt..-risti-.-affect," he nays, '■ is to produce an intoxication in which the patient i> inclhied to rage and physical violence-. while hopeless insanity is tlie inevitable consequence of persisting in its use, even for a relatively short period of time." He. t-ays of tin's beverage that it -'is filling with its victims the asylums of this country, ■where it is popularly supposed that intemperance is almost unknown." . The revelations made by Consul Gifford have been supplemented by others made by Consul-General "Walker, of Paris, of kindred and equally serious import. He says that "'wine, so-called, ie entirely made of other substances than the grape.'" A liquid is cold for wine made of logwood, vinegar, and water, -with. 10 per cent. Aviuc. Among the substances used for coloring , are dwarfelderberries, mulberries, logwood, beets, "rags dipped in juices of tinctonnum and fermented, exposed to decomposition in wine," pokeweed, Brazilwood, etc. Prance prohibits American pork for the protection of the health of its people. Infinitely more important is it that the United States should prohibit the importation of these drugged and insanity-producing liquors.