1854.) OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTION. 381 
and envyings, and jealousies and care, and fits of wild impulsive 
enthusiasm, however directed, — these things carry tumult into the 
brain, and lead to madness. However ignorant we may be of the 
primary changes in the brain induced by such injudicious exertion 
of its functions, we may at least gather wisdom from a consideration 
of their undoubted results. fee] 
WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 
Friday, February 24. 
Siz Joun P, Bortzav, Bart. F.R.S. F.S.A. Vice-President, 
in the Chair. 
Henry Bence Jonss, M.A., M.D., F.R.S. 
On the Acidity, Sweetness, and Strength of different Wines. 
In the Philosophical Transactions for 1811 and 1813 Mr. Brande 
has given a table of the strength of wine, beer, and spirits: if these 
fluids acted on the system only as stimulants, no further experiments 
would be required to enable any one to determine their comparative 
medicinal and dietetic values ; but wine and beer contain many other 
substances besides spirit and water. Acids, sugar, ethers, salts, and 
colouring matter are all also present in varying proportions ; and it 
must at least be known which wine or beer is most sweet, and 
which is most acid, as well as which is most strong, before any 
satisfactory answer can be given whether port or sherry, claret or 
champagne, bitter beer or brandy should be taken. It would also be 
very desirable that the amount of salts and volatile xthers should 
also be known; but the large quantity of fluid requisite for the 
analyses renders the questions relative to these substances still more 
difficult to answer. 
I. On the Acidity of different liquids. 
Hitherto, though acid is as invariably present as alcohol, very few 
observations have been made on the acidity of different wines. In 
Dr. Henderson’s work on wine, Dr. Prout has given four determi- 
nations of the amount of acid in Rhine wine. 
Johannisberger, 1788 contained 4,1 grs. { Tprtarlc acid by weight 
Rudegheimer, 1811 uS 2,7 grs. 
Rhenish 4! 4,6 grs. 
Same “8 4,4 grs. 
Professor Liebig in a paper on Australian Wines gives 
Verdeilho and la Follie px 2,1 grs. _ bi 
La Follie and Muscat hd 2,6 grs. 
White Muscat Lunel oi 2,8 grs. 
Verdeilho ae 2,5 grs. 
Riesling ee 1,2 grs. 
