t 3^5 3 



dcpofits the lead, hence old rum is found much 

 lefs unwholefome than new. If rum be left to 

 evaporate in a glafs it leaves an acid remnant be- 

 hind. He further adds, that if a piece of lead be 

 immerfcd in pure proof fpirit the fpace often weeks, 

 the liquor is found to have acquired a flight im- 

 pregnation from the metal — A new and Angular 

 circumftancci but which, I believe, never can take 

 place where pure fpirit is employed. 



The nitrous acid is fometimes clandeftinely ufed 

 to corred ill- flavoured rum, and fuch an adulte- 

 rated fpirit may be readily conceived capable of 

 adting on lead, though pure fpirit certainly cannot. 

 Hence it is eafy to fee how the above deception in 

 the Do6lor*s experiment might tend to miflead his 

 judgment. Difliilleries, and even breweries, with 

 afl their apparatus, ought to undergo a narrow in- 

 fpedlion, as acids, and even their effluvia, are ca- 

 pable of corroding lead. Therefore the leaden 

 worms, fpouts, gutters, in a word every utenfil 

 containing that metal, ought to be viewed with a 

 jealous eye. Nor ought the enquiry to be con- 

 fined to thefe places alone : for if we extend our 

 views to our wine and cyder-preflTes— dairies, 

 kitchens, and ftore-rooms, we fliall probably meet 

 with much to be complained of— much to be re- 

 formed. Whether the apothecary's fliop, or even 



the 



