272 On the Fermentation and 
distillers to prevent the wash from burning in the 
still. A bundle of clean sticks is sometimes thrown 
loose into the liquor to agitate the same during the 
ebullition. This is more effectually done by a cy- 
linder, fixed in such a manner that it will turn by 
the action of the steam, and continue a more regular 
agitation by means of chains of wood or metal con- 
nected with the cylinder; but these precautions are 
scarcely necessary if the wash has been rendered 
sufficiently limpid. 
RECTIFICATION is simpleand easy, provided the 
previous operations have been well managed; but if 
an empyreuma has been contracted in the still, or the 
foetid oil has been combined with the spirit, then it 
becomes more difficult. On the contrary, if these 
have been avoided, nothing more is necessary than 
to mix ‘the spirit with an equal quantity of pure 
water and recommit it to distillation, when it will 
come over pure. 
When the liquor has been burnt in the still, it 
ought to be kept, for some weeks, in charred vessels ; 
and a quantity of charcoal should be mixed with 
the spirit and water, previously to the distillation. 
This will, generally, be found a sufficient reme- 
dy for empyreuma, but will not correct the dis- 
agreeable flavour communicated by the admixture 
of the fcetid oil. Many substances have been used 
for this purpose, none of which, I think, are fully 
