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And if there was only a little samshu added the quantity might not be sufficiently high for you to be certain of your conclusions, although you might suspect it ?—That is quite true.
The CHAIRMAN.Do you think any improvement can be made in the quality of samshu ?—No; I examined the distillers and they said they were satisfied with the present composition of samshu.
Is it desirable to fix a standard for the strength of samshu ?—No; I do not think The Chinese do not want it. Although variable, it does not make much difference whether it is a little stronger or weaker as far as the Chinese are concerned.
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Is the percentage of compound ethers in samshu greater than that found in an average specimen of whiskey or brandy ?—Yes.
Is the percentage of higher alcohols found in samshu greater than that found in an average specimen of whiskey or brandy ?--No, it is less.
Are any injurious effects, such as violent intoxication or delirium, known to be pro- duced by these compound ethers and higher alcohols ?—No, it is a common thing for some Chinese to drink pretty nearly a bottle of samshu without getting intoxicated. The compound ethers are composed principally of acetic ether, of which a fair quantity may be drunk without danger.
Dr. STEDMAN. And the total percentage of these ethers is ?-About one-third of one per cent.
The CHAIRMAN.-Is the percentage of compound ethers in samslut sufficient to produce any of those injurious effects supposing the quantity of samshu drunk at one time to be not greater than the quantity of whisky or brandy of the same strength which would under ordinary circumstances make a man intoxicated ?--No; in my opinion the alcohol would produce more harmful results than the ethers.
THE CHAIRMAN.-I presume that the presence of an excessive quantity of higher ethers in spirits would increase their toxic effects, would it not?
Mr. BROWNE. Well, within certain limits only. In the case of samshu of 50 degrees under proof strength you have about 17 grains of compound ethers in a bottle. If a man were to drink one bottle full of samshu containing 17 grains of compound ethers I think the effect of the ethers would be entirely nullified on account of the effect produced by the alcohol.
Dr. STEDMAN, What is the strength of the samshu of which you say a man could drink one bottle ?--About 58.7 degrees under proof.
And ordinary whiskey is ?—About 25 degrees under proof.
Then proof spirit contains about 50 per cent. of alcohol ?—Yes; you may say about half of alcohol and half of water by weight.
And what is samshu of 58.7 degrees under proof?-Every 100 fluid parts contain 41.3 parts of proof spirit and 58.7 parts of water.
And in an ordinary whiskey which is about 25 degrees under proof there are 75 parts of proof spirit ?—That is so.
Rev. R. F. COBBOLD-Does it follow the toxic effects would be in proportion to the amount of alcohol present ?--Yes, in my opinion.
Dr. STEDMAN. There is one other question I would like to put to Mr. BROWNE, and that is whether he knows of any spirits containing so-called fiery ingredients such as is said to be in the spirits sold to the natives of West Africa, and does he know what those ingredients are ?-This so-called "fiery spirit" sent to West Africa has been found on analysis to be very good spirit.