93 
IMPORTANT EXCISE PROSECUTION AT WOLVERHAMPTON. 
containing methylated spirit in all the three bottles of essence. They presented the same 
analytical results in like proportions. In the preparation of the essence, which was Com¬ 
pounded in his presence, he saw the following among other ingredients used:—Scotch 
treacle, golden syrup, sweet spirits of nitre, essence of ginger, capsicum, infusion of 
gentian, and chloroform. 
Mr. Spooner: Enough to frighten the stomachs of all the Queen’s subjects in Wolver¬ 
hampton. 
Mr. Motteram : With all respect to the Bench’s stomach, I would recommend you, in 
case of cholera, to try some ; it will do you good. 
Mr. Spooner : I should be in doubt about it. ^ 
Mr. Hill, continuing, said there was no pretence for saying that the mixture was any¬ 
thing but a medicine, for everything it contained was a medicine, except the treacle and 
water. Methylated spirit was used very extensively in the preparation of medicines, and 
the methylated nitrous ether even more so. The advertisement described the medicine 
fairly enough ; certainly it was diaphoretic and diuretic. 
By Mr. Marshall: 1 have never used methylated spirits myself, nor do I intend. The 
“ Indian Essence ” is a pharmaceutical medicine, but not according to thePharmacopceia. 
I found indications of nitre in all the tests; am quite sure of its presence, having made 
comparative tests of each sample. Even if I had not seen the essence made, my evidence 
would not have differed. 
By Mr. Spooner: The Council of Physicians are much opposed to the use of methy¬ 
lated spirits. They are not now used in the General Hospital, Birmingham. 
Mr. Spooner, in reply to an observation from Mr. Motteram, said he asked these ques¬ 
tions for the good of the public. He thought that in hospitals especially they ought to 
have the very best they could get, and he was very much surprised at what he had 
heard. 
Mr. Dulley, chemist, of Worcester Street, was next called. He deposed that the 
“ Indian Essence ” was a medical preparation, and that there was no pretence at all for 
saying that it was a beverage. 
Andrew Hanning, sworn, said that he had been in the employ of the defendant since 
December last, and during that period had had the mixing of the essence. That pre¬ 
pared for Dr. Hill, in the presence of that gentleman, was made in precisely the same 
way as in all other instances. There was no pure methylated spirit used. They used, 
in all cases, methylated nitrous ether only, and all the methylated spirit ever present was 
that which existed in the ether. It was as a medicine, and a medicine only. He had 
tried it himself, and found instant relief from it. During the time he had been in Mr. 
Eeade’s service they had had about forty gallons of nitrous ether, and only about one 
gallon of the pure methylated spirit. They had only used about half of the latter, and 
that was in the preparation of varnish. 
The Stipendiary: That seems to me to be its proper use. 
Mr. Motteram: But you are prejudiced. This essence is really a wonderful medicine. 
Mr. Harkniss, recalled by the Bench, said he was quite sure that there was not a par¬ 
ticle of nitre in the essence. 
Mr. Hanning swore positively on his oath that not a particle of pure methylated spirit 
had been used in the composition of the essence. During the time he had been with the 
defendant they had made altogether from 80 to 100 gallons of the essence. 
Mr. W. Y. Brevitt, Darlington Sstreet, and member of the Pharmaceutical Society, said 
he had examined a bottle of the “ Indian Essence,” and he considered that it was a phar¬ 
maceutical preparation. He supplied the South Staffordshire Hospital this year, and 
supplied the methylated preparations mentioned in the tender. Did not sell the essence. 
By Mr. Spooner: I don’t use methylated spirits in my own prescriptions ; but I may 
add for your information that the late Mr. Nesbitt did not object to the use of methy¬ 
lated nitre. Naphtha is used as a medicine. I wish it to be understood that I don’t 
agree with methylated preparations. . There are not so many tinctures with methylated 
spirit used in the South Staffordshire Hospital now as formerly. 
This being the case for the defence,— 
Mr. Spooner said that he was prepared then to give his judgment upon the case. The 
judgment was subject to appeal, and he was very glad that it could be appealed against, 
both as regarded facts and law ; but with respect to law, he did not think that such a 
course would be necessary. As regarded the facts, however, it was a very different 
