BOOK III. CHAP. VI. 565 



15. This materially depends on the right management of the 

 diflilling procefs, taking care never to draw off the fpirit or runnings 

 too low; for whenever this happens, the concreted matter at the 

 bottom of the ftill will be apt to burn, and an onpyreutnatk oil comes 

 over, which requires great length of time to make it unite with the 

 fpirit, and fomctimes it cannot be cured of this depravity by the 

 longefl keeping. 



§ The beft method for preventing fuch an efFevfl will be, to keep 

 up an equal, and not too violent, fire, and to draw off the runnings 

 for marketable ufe not a moment longer than while they continue 

 perfedly limpid, colourlefs, or clear from any whitifli cloud or tinge; 

 a fmall quantity of which is fufticient to fpoil the flavour of a whole 

 puncheon of the fpirit. 



§ This milky tinge is the fure criterion, to fliew that a burnt or 

 naufeous empyreumatic oil is rifing, and that the rum is what is 

 commonly ziWtdi Jlill-burnt . It afcends commonly towards the end 

 of the operation. Some planters draw the runnings too long, from 

 a miflaken thrift of making the mod: they can, and thus perhaps 

 depreciate the whole of their diftillation. What firfi: comes over is 

 always the beft, and, when diluted to the flandard proof with pure 

 fpring water, it makes the fineft rum. In Jamaica, they generally 

 mix the whole of the firfi: runnings together, and diflil or redify 

 tliem over again, referving aHo the low wines, or latter runnings, for 

 the fame purpofe. 



16. This empyreumatic oil is apt to difagree with fome fVomachs, 

 and caufe the heart-burn. But the effe6t is rather an inconvenience than 

 any injury. It only gives ri(e to an unplealing fenfation, but does 

 no real prejudice to the health. 



1 ~. No fpirituous liquor digefls more kindly, or affifts digeflion 

 more efiicacioufly, than good mm, fufficiently diluted with water, 

 and drank in proper quantity. The ufc of it has even been found 

 effectual in fome chronical cafes of bad digeflion, where all other 

 means of relief have failed. 



The comparative effeds of rum and brandy on the health have 

 been noted at fea, where they are particularly diftinguifliable; when 

 it has happened, that, in failure of being able to procure the former, 



the 



