Chap. 6.] Compoffion of Ardent Spirit. 6$ 



mentation, confifts of the fame principles as fugar, ex- 

 cept that they are combined in different proportions. 

 Ardent fpirit contains more hydrogen, and lefs car- 

 bon and oxygen j which latter principles compole the 

 carbonic acid gas which efcapes during the fpirituous 

 fermentation.' M. Lavoifier found that when ardent 

 Ipirit is burned in a chimney adapted to receive the 

 vapours, a larger quantity of water is formed than the 

 whole of the fpirit employed amounts to ; whence it 

 follows, that ardent fpirit contains a large proportion 



of 



Having thus accurately determined the nature and quantity of 

 the conftituent elements of, the materials fubmitted to fermenta- 

 tion, we have (adds M. L.) next to examine the produfb refult- 

 ing from that prccefs. For this purpofe, I placed the above 

 510 libs, of fermentable liquor in a' proper apparatus, by mean* 

 of which I could accurately determine the quantity and quality of 

 gas difengaged during the fermentation, aud could even weigh 

 every one of the products feparately, at any period of the prccefs 

 J judged proper^ An hour or two after the fubftances are mixed 

 together, efpecially if they are kept in a temperature of from. 

 15 (65.75*) to 1 8 (72.5) of the thermometer, the firft marks 

 6f fermentation commence ; the liquor turns thick and frothy, 

 little globules of air are difengaged, which rife and burft at the 

 furface ; the quantity of thefe globules quickly increafes, and 

 there is a rapid and abundant production of very pure carbonic 

 acid, accompanied with a fcum, which is the yea-ft feparating from 

 the mixture. After fome days, lefs or more, according to- the 

 degree of Jieat, the inteftine motion and difengagement of gas di- 

 roinim ; but thefe do not ceafe entirely, nor is the fermentation 

 completed for a confiderable time. During the procefs, 35 libs. 

 5 OK. ^gros. iggrs, of dry carbonic acid are difengaged, which 

 carry along with them 13 Jibs. 14 oz. 5 gros. of water. There re- 

 mains in the veflel 460 libs. 1 1 oz. 6 grot. 53 grs. of vinous liquor, 

 {lightly acidulous. This is at firft muddy, but clears of itfelf, and 

 depofits a portion of yeaft. When we feparately anal yfe all thefe 

 fubftances, which is effefted by very troublefome procefles, we hare 

 the refults as given in the following tables, 



VOL. HI. F TABLE 



