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wholly difcarded, but a portion of the old leaven is 

 yet fufFered to remain. " The bed or floor of the 

 «* prefs, (fays he,) which is now generally compofed 

 "of wood or ftone, fornaerly was ufually covered 

 *• with lead, which, by being diflfolved in the acid 

 ** of the liquor, has probably been the caufe of 

 ** much mifchief. Neverthelefs, lead is flill fufFered 

 *^ to remain about fome cyder-preflfes. There is a 

 " publick mill at Newnham, whofe bed is entirely 

 " covered with leads and I have feen others whofe 

 *^ lips, or fpouts, and a rim round the outer edge, 

 " are of that dangerous metal!"* 



A flriking inflance of ignorance, obftinacy, and 

 impolicy ! otherwife a pra61:ice fo injurious to health, 

 and detrimental to the credit of the liquor, would 

 not be thus abfurdly perfifled in, I know it is 

 pretended that the quick paflTage of the apple juice 

 through fuch fpouts or gutters does not afford time 

 for any impregnation. But this is a miftake, for 

 the leaden furface being often wetted, and alter- 

 nately dried by expofure to the air, contradbs minute 

 particles of cerufs, or ruft of lead, ready to be 

 wafhed off, and diffolved in the courfe of the pro- 

 cefs. Sometimes the juice is even fufFered to fer- 

 ment in vefTels lined with lead, which flill greatly 



• Rural Oeconomy of Gloceftcrlhire, Herefordlhire, &c. p. 313. 



increafes 



