SUGAR, &C. FROM LINEN RAGS. 39 



Shreds of linen rags are triturated with sulphuric 

 acid in a glass mortar ; which produces, in a short time, 

 a thick, gummy matter which, on iDcing boiled for 

 some time with dilute sulphuric acid, supplying water 

 occasionally to make up the deficiency occasioned by 

 evaporation, acquires an intensely sweet taste ; lime or 

 common litharge is then added to neutralize the excess 

 of acid, which it does by forming an insoluble precipi- 

 tate, the former producing sulphate of lime, the latter 

 sulphate of lead, which may be separated and the 

 liquid evaporated and crystallized ; this will be found 

 to be excellent sugar : the process may be carried still 

 further, the sugar may be again dissolved and a small 

 quantity of yeast added to make it ferment, after being 

 allowed to do so for some time it may be submitted to 

 distillation, when a spirit will be procured possessing 

 all the properties of, and equal in quality to rum. If, 

 on the contrary, instead of adding yeast, the sugar be 

 re-dissolved and exposed to the air for some time, 

 acetious fermentation will take place and the whole 

 will convert itself into excellent vinegar. Thus we 

 have three useful substances, differing from each other 

 materially in their properties but all produced from a 

 substance also distinct in its properties from any of the 

 three produced. 



To a person unacquainted with Chemistry these 

 transmutations must appear almost incredible, but the 

 Chemist finds, on examining vegetable matters, such 

 as gum, resin, oil, wax, sugar, vinegar, spirit, &c., 

 that they are all composed chiefly of the same consti- 

 tuents, differing only in the proportions, and that the 

 changes which take place are only new modifications 

 of the same ingredients. 



The elemcAts of which vegetables are chiefly com- 

 posed are oxygen, carbon and hydrogen, and with 

 these, with the assistance of light and heat, nature 

 forms all the different variety of vegetation with which 

 we are surrounded ; the lily, the violet, the tulip, the 

 rose, with all their various tints and perfumes, are only 

 more delicate arrangements of the same materials which 

 form the massive oak and stately fir. 



