CHAPTER XXII 



THE MICROBE OF ALCOHOL 



ALCOHOL is a colorless transparent fluid. It 

 boils at 175 degrees, while water boils at 212 de- 

 grees. It burns with a bluish, almost invisible 

 flame, intensely hot, and without smoke. It is ex- 

 ceedingly volatile; exposed to the air, it evaporates 

 rapidly. Alcohol has a great avidity for water, is 

 agreeable to the taste, and has a fruit smell. It is 

 also one of the best antiseptics. 



With so many good properties, alcohol does 

 great and good service for the world. It makes 

 one of the best heating lamps for the dentist, drug- 

 gist and jeweler. It is largely used in all the 

 museums of the world, to preserve specimens in 

 natural history. As a powerful solvent, it is exten- 

 sively used in making varnishes and compounding 

 medicines. A thousand perfumes with their deli- 

 cate aromas, and cordials to endless extent, owe to 

 alcohol their very existence. As a remedial agent, 

 alcohol is employed in one form or another by 

 nearly every physician in the world. More than 

 all, on alcohol depends the existence of all malt 

 and distilled liquors the world over. 



The consumption therefore of alcohol is enor- 

 mous. Its manufacture forms one of the great 

 staple industries of the world, and becomes the 



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