ADULTERATIONS OF ALIMENTARY SUBSTANCES. 393 
which became sour was saturated and sweetened with 
oxide of lead, litharge, according to the process of Martin 
le Bavarois ; now this dangerous saturation is almost aban- 
doned: we had an opportunity of noticing it, however, 
some years ago, at Compiegne ; several soldiers of the camp 
were taken ill ; the cause of their illness was investigated, 
and it was ascertained that this cause was attributable to 
the use of a green wine, which had been sweetened with 
acetate of lead ; the vintner, who had bought from a drug- 
gist the acetate which he introduced into his wine, was 
brought before the tribunal, and convicted. 
Wine is also, in some cases, mixed with alum, with the 
view of rendering it clearer and more limpid.* 
16. — Of Brandies. 
The brandies sold by retail are most commonly mixed 
with alcohol of fecula and water, the whole colored by 
caramel ; sometimes the brandies, owing to the impurity of 
the alcohol, and in consequence of negligence of the distil- 
latory vessels, contain salts of copper injurious to health.! 
17. — Of Vinegar. 
The vinegar sold at Paris is still, notwithstanding the 
surveillance of those who sell it by retail, mixed with fo- 
reign substances ; this acid which the poor employ as a con- 
diment in the aliments of which they make daily use, is 
* It should be called to mind — 1st. That some months ago, the Sieur R., 
proceeded before the tribunals against a company against the sale of a process, 
by aid of which a portion of wine was doubled without increase of price. 2nd. 
That two musicians, dealers in wines, were condemned to three months' im- 
prisonment, and to a fine of 200 francs by the 7th Chamber, for having ma- 
nufactured with water, vinegar, southern wine, and campeachy wood, a liquid 
which they had sold as wine. We have just detected in wines the presence 
of a salt of copper, arising, in our opinion, from alcohol containing a salt of 
copper having been added to it. 
j- We have seen alcohol containing 30 centigrammes of acetate of copper 
to one quart of brandy. 
26* 
