On the Analv/ls of I Vine. 3>?I 



By the comparative experiments I have been able to 

 make I am convinced that a little more fpirit is obtained by 

 this method than by the old one ; the caufe of v.hich is_, 

 that the (pirii iiilies cool from the apparatus, and fuftains no 

 lofs by evaporation. The diltilleries therefore in which this 

 improved apparatus is employed have no lenlible imell of the 

 Ipirit. 



When wines are diftilled, the operation is carried on till 

 the momen^t when the liquor which palles is no longer in- 

 flammable. 



Wines furnilh more or lefs fpirit, according to their de- 

 gree of ftreniith. Very generous wine furnifties a third of 

 its weijrht. The mean term of the produft of our wines in 

 the foutii is a fourth of the whole : there are fome which, 

 fiirnifli a third. 



Old w ines give better fpirit than the new ; but they fur- 

 nidi a lefs quantity, eipecially when the decompofition of 

 the faccharuie body has been terminated before the diftil- 

 lation. 



What remains in the boiler after the fpirit is extrafted is 

 caWctl ijhi.i/J'e : it is a confuCed mixture of tartar, colouring 

 matter, dre^^s, &c. This rciiduum is thrown away as ufe- 

 lefs; yet by drying it in the air, or in a fiove, very pure alkali 

 might be extra^led from it by combullion. 



In fome diitilleriesxthe linajje is acidified, in order to be 

 diitillcd, and to extract from it the little vinegar that has 

 been formed in it. 



The fpirit is Itrouger according as it is mixed with a greater 

 or lefs quantitv of water ; and as it is of importance in com- 

 merce to be able to afccrtain cafily the degrees of ftreugth, 

 many rcll-arches have been made to difcover the means of 

 determining it. 



The diltiller judges of the ilrenglh of the fpirit by the 

 number, (i/e, and permanency of the bubbles which are 

 formed when the liquor is ihakcn : for this purpoie he pours 

 it from one velfel into another, lets it fall from a certain 

 height, or, what is more common, puts it into a long flalk, 

 which is filled two-thirds, and then fliakes it violently, keep- 

 ing the mouth (hut with his finger. This laft apparatus is 

 called in French la fonde. 



The proof by combuftion, in whatever manner performed, 

 is very defeclive. The regulation of 1729 prefcribes putting 

 gunpowder into a fpoon, covering it with liquor, aiid felting 

 tire to it. The fpirit, if it inflame the pgwder, is confidered 

 to be of the firll quality : when the contrary happens, it is 

 bad. But liquor of the tame quality iufljtmeSj yr Joes not in- 



A a 2 iiiiUie, 



