146, _ ORD. VII. Hederacer. = VITIS VINIFERA, 
‘hispanicum, mountain; vinum canarium, canary or sack; vinum 
rhenanum, rhenish; and vinum rubrum, red port. 
On a chemical investigation, all wines consist chiefly of water, 
alcohol, a peculiar acid, the aérial acid, tartar, and an astringent 
#ummy resinous miatter, in which the colour of red wine resides, 
and which is expressed from the husks of the. grapes. They differ 
from each other in the:proportion of these Fnigrendanents) and particu- 
larly in that of the alcohol; which they contain. 
The qualities of wines depend not only upon the difference of 
the grapes, as containing more or less saccharine juice, and of the 
acid matter which accompanies it, but also upon circumstances 
attending the process of the fermentation: Thus, if the fermentation 
be incomplete, the wine may contain a portion of must, or unassi- 
milated juice ; or if it be too active, or too long protracted, it may 
be converted into vinegar.’ 
New wines are liable to a strong degree of acescency when taken 
into the stomach, and thereby occasion much flatulency, and eructa- 
tions of acid matter; heart-burn, and violent pains of the stomach 
from spasms are also often produced; and the acid matter, by passing 
into the intestines, and mixing with the bile, is apt to occasion 
colics, or excite diarrhceas. Sweet wines are likewise more disposed 
to become acescent in the stomach than others; but as the quantity 
of alcohol which they contain is more considerable than appears 
sensibly to the taste, their acescency is thereby in a great measure 
counteracted. Red port, and most of the red wines, have an astrin- 
gent quality, by which they strengthen the stomach, and prove 
useful in restraining immoderate evacuations; on the contrary, 
those which are of an acid nature, as rhenish, pass freely by the 
kidneys, and gently loosen the belly. But this, and perhaps all the 
thin or weak wines, though of an agreeable flavour, yet, as contain- 
ing little alcohol, are readily disposed to become acetous in the 
stomach, and thereby to aggravate all arthritic and calculous com- 
plaints, as well as to produce the effects of new wine. 
* See Cullen M. M. vol. i. p, 413. 
