ADULTERATION OF SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 181, 14 June 1862, Page 5

ADULTERATION OF SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS.

The following report by Dr. Macadam, the Government analyist, was read at the meeting of the Melbourne City Council, on Monday :— Government Analytical Laboratory, ' Melbourne, May 27, 1862. To the Chairman of tha Health Committee. Sir,—l have- the honor to report that on the 3rd instant, the samples of spirits, consisting of rum, brandy, gin, and old torn, were delivered at this laboratory by inspector Andrews, and that these samples have since, according to instructions, been subjected to chemical examination, with the following results. The samples were divided into two lots, viz. : — No. 1 lot, marked BT and TA, consisting of—two bottles draught rum, one bottle pale brandy, one bottle draught brandy (dark), one bottle Burnett's old torn, and one bottle Booth and Co.'s old torn. No. 2 lot, marked BO and TA, consisting of— two bottles 'rum, one bottle dark brandy, one bottle pale brandy, two'bottles old torn, and one case bottled gin. No. 1 Lot. The draught rum, on distillation, was found to •contain 30 per cent, of absolute alcohol, equal to 37 under proot by Sykes's hydrometer. On evaporation it left a very large treacly residium. The spirit distilled was of a bad flavor, and contained fusel oil in quantity. This sample is 37 ixnder propf, or 20 degrees under the required strength, and is greatly adulterated with caramel. The sample was delivered in two bottles, one labelled "Old pale Brandy, Chas. D. Otarre, Cognac," and the other, "A. Cahuzac, Cognac Champagne, 1795." The bottle of pale brandy was labelled " Champagne Vineyard Proprietary. Boutelleau, Manager. Old Cognac." This sample contained 39.5 per cent, of absolute alcohol, or was about 17 under proof. This spirit is unadulterated. The draught dark brandy was contained in a bottle without label. It contained 27 per cent of absolute alcohol, or was about 42 under proof. Fusel ail was present, and caramel in abundance ; "tannin acid was present also. Altogether this is a very inferior spirit. The old torn, labelled " Sir Robert Burnett and Co.'s celebrated Old Tom Gin," contained 36 per cent, of absolute alcohol, or about 25 under proof. It was slightly acid, containing traces of sulphuric acid, probably resulting- from the means adopted for its clarification, after dilution with water. "Booth and Co.'s superior Old Tom. Gin London,'' was contained in. a bottle thus labelledj as also the name stamped on the glass. It contained 39 per cent of absolute alcohol, or about 18| under proof. It was acid to test papers, and contained decided traces of sulphuric acid, derived, no doubt, as in the former case. No. 2 Lot. The rum in this lot was in bottles labelled " Jamaica Rum, Bendigo Wine and Spirit Stores, Bourke street" in a red and gold label. On distillation this was found to contain 39.5 per cent, of absolute alcohol, or about 17 under proof. This sample was of the minimum strength allowed by law, but was unadulterated. The dark brandy was in bottle, labelled " I. and H. Martell, very old Brandy." This sample contained 41.5 per cent, of absolute alchohol, or about 15 under proof. It contained caramel and a tannin compound j otherwise unadulterated. The pale brandy was labelled " Jas. Hennessy and Co.'s Brandy," with the usual " battle-axe" brand. This sample was unadulterated. The old torn was in bottle, and labelled '" Swaine, Boord, aiut Co.'s Cordial Old Tom, London," It contained 39-5 per cent, of absolute alcohol, or about 17 underproof. Slight traces of_sulphuric acid were present; otherwise unadulterated. The gin was in the usual square bottle, -without, label, and was apparently in its imported state. It contained 39 "5 per cent, of absolute alcohol, or about 17 under proof. It contained traces of sulphuric acid, and also, on evaporation, traces of lead. This was most likely an accidental impurity. The quantity present was such as to be quite innocuous. It was a good i sample of "hollands." : . :

In canolusion, I would recommend that the vendors of the draught samples of rum and bnjndy in No. 1 Lot should be prosecuted. I may add, that none of the samples contained tobacco, cocculus, indicus, cayenne pepper, or other acrid adulteration."

I have the honor to be, sir, Your most obedient servant, John Macadam, M.D., Health Officer. [The report was adopted, and prosecution ordered.} —Qtedong 4tfw<i»er,