No. G. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 69 



MALT AND VINOUS LIQUORS. 



The preliminary examination recently inaugurated of some of 

 the malt and vinous liquors that are beinji^ sold in Pennsylvania 

 has attracted wide attention. The subject is one of xjrime import- 

 ance, and the indications lead to the belief that the legitimate 

 brewer and distiller will be in most hearty accord with the Com- 

 missioner in his endeavor to enforce the law. Imitation, drugged 

 and poisonous liquors are positively harmful and pernicious in their 

 effects. The harm done when such products are allowed to have 

 an unrestricted sale is simply incalculable, and the danger to human 

 life is particularly great when they are sold for medicinal purposes, 

 when none but the purest and best stimulants are recommended 

 by physicians. That the imposition practiced was a far-reaching 

 one cannot be controverted, as the number of prosecutions success- 

 fully brought against liqnor dealers, hotel keepers, druggists, etc., 

 will attest. Many thousands of dollars were paid into the State 

 Treasury in tines imposed for the sale of such adulterated, com- 

 pounded and chemically preserved liquors, and the w^ork will be 

 continued until, if possible, the present conditions are removed. 



ANALYSES OF BEER. 



A preliminary examination of the beer that is being sold in Penn- 

 sylvania has been commenced and is now in progress as the result 

 of the alleged use of harmful adulterants. These aualvtical tests 

 were made mainly to discover preservatives. A summary of the 

 chemists' reports shows that out of a total of 13G samples of beer 

 analyzed 100 brands did not contain preservatives, while 26 samples 

 were drugged more or less heavily with salicylic acid or other anti- 

 septics. Twenty of these prosecutions against brewers, hotel keep- 

 ers and proprietors of restaurants were settled in the courts upon 

 the paj-ment of the usual fine and costs. Six cases are still pending 

 and remain untermiuated. In five of these unfinished cases, the 

 grand juries found true bills, and the cases will be tried in the 

 several courts, at the earliest possible date. 



The following correspondence explains itself: 



"603 West End Trust Building, 

 "Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 30, 1903. 



"My Dear Sir: In August and October, 1903, prosecutions were begun against 

 Messrs. Carl Lampe, Dennis McGowan, James F. Shannon, William Wallace, 

 Charles W. Soulas and John F. Betz & Sons, for the alleged sale of beer re- 

 ported by our chemist to be adulterated. Early in December of this year, true 

 bills were found against these defendants with the exception of John F. Betz 

 & Sons, whose case, as I am informed, has not thus far been presented to the 

 grand jury. 



