322 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY 



" It appears to me, that there are two modes in which scientific re- 

 search and investigation may tend to prevent or lessen the danger in 

 using this article. One is, by a thorough knowledge of the chemical 

 qualities of these ingredients, so to mix and combine them, as to 

 render them less explosive ; and the other to ascertain and point 

 out the mode of action and operation of these fluids, and show the 

 causes and modes of sudden and unexpected ignition, so that those 

 who use them may easily learn, and with ordinary prudence practise, 

 the necessary means of avoiding danger. In the hope that some- 

 thing of this sort can be done, I commend the subject to the continued 

 attention of our scientific friends." 



Dr. C. T. Jackson, in illustration of the views of Judge Shaw, 

 observed, " that the use of alcohol was of the greatest impor- 

 tance to the agriculture of the Western States, for it was the 

 most valuable product of Indian corn in many of those States. 

 If corn could not be converted into alcohol and oil, it would 

 in many places cease to be a profitable crop. Indian corn, 

 when fermented, yielded first fifteen gallons of oil of corn (a 

 fixed oil) per hundred bushels of corn. 



" The next product was a fermented one, which on distil- 

 lation yielded corn-whiskey, and the corn-whiskey passed into 

 our Eastern States for manufacturing purposes. 



" This was, in part, rectified into alcohol of ninety per cent., 

 and that was used for the manufacture of burning-fluid, of co- 

 logne, spirits or tinctures of various kinds, &c. The ordinary 

 whiskey was used for making white vinegar by fermentation 

 in tuns filled with beach shavings, and this vinegar was em- 

 ployed in the manufacture of white-lead and sugar of lead. 

 This vinegar was also extensively sold for making pickles 

 and for domestic uses, and, when colored by burnt sugar, 

 passed ordinarily for cider-vinegar, though it was not so 

 pleasant to the taste as the true cider-vinegar. 



" The oil from Indian corn has thus far been profitably 

 separated only by the process of fermentation. It is of suf- 

 ficient value to repay the cost of raising corn in the Western 

 States, the oil being worth on the spot where made about 



