244 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
The committee, on its part, believed that an instrument could 
be devised that would measure the output of the stills. In its 
report of July 21, 1866, the committee remarks: 
“The committee confidently believe that a spirit meter can be constructed 
which will register the quantity of spirits passing from a still, and afford a 
reliable check on the distiller and inspector. 
“They recommend that an instrument based upon the principle of Worthing- 
ton’s water-meter be constructed and submitted to trial. 
“Of various inventions submitted for measuring and registering the quantity 
of spirits passing from a still, the only one which has commended itself for sim- 
plicity and certainty of action, is that of Cox & Murphy, of Montreal, which 
the committee likewise recommend to be submitted to actual trial in a distillery, 
for several months, under the supervision of an officer of the revenue.” °? 
And in the report for 1867: 
“The desire of the Internal Revenue Department to possess a reliable spirit- 
meter having become generally known through its officers and agents, a large 
number of inventions were brought forward, from time to time, between June, 
1866, and January, 1868, and referred to this committee. The examination of 
the various plans and models, and the correspondence incident thereto, involved 
the expenditure of much time and labor, the constant aim being to develop any 
promising plans by pointing out defects, and making suggestions of improvement 
when practicable.” °4 
The committee examined in all some 18 different meters and 
submitted written reports on most of them. This work occupied 
a year and a half, the last report being submitted on January 2, 
1868. The meter of Cox and Murphy did not, in the end, prove 
satisfactory, and the committee finally turned to that of I. P. 
Tice, of New York, which was recommended to the Treasury 
Department for adoption on April 3, 1867. On August 1, 1867, 
Joseph Henry and J. E. Hilgard read before the Secretary of 
the Treasury and the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner 
of Internal Revenue a statement relative to modes of defeating 
the operation of spirits meters.*° On October 9, 1867, they sub- 
mitted rules for the use of the Tice meter, and by the end of 
that year 19 such meters had been attached to distilleries in 
* Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for 1866, p. 56. 
™ Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for 1867, p. 12. 
SOR, GIy Jos 2% 
