98 TESTIMONY OF HENKY MORTON. 



substances are mingled with water ? A. Very generally in chemical 

 manufactories where acids for example are manufactured in large 

 quantity, hydrometers are used to determine the percentage of 

 acid to water or in other words the strength of acids ; in distil- 

 leries and vinegar manufactories, in breweries, in sugar houses and 

 among those dealing in similar products ; similar instruments are 

 also used where water is not concerned in the buying and selling 

 of petroleum products, naphtha, kerosene, etc. 



Q. You would say it is in general use, readily to be used by any 

 person of ordinary intelligence? A. Yes, it requires no special 

 skill. 



Q. What is your opinion of the accuracy of such instruments 

 for determining specific gravity of liquids as compared with such 

 other methods as are commonly in use ? A. I think they are quite 

 as accurate ; the accuracy in any sort of method depends upon the 

 care and the precaution and the arrangement ; tins being the same 

 in both cases as accurate results may be obtained with these as with 

 the other ordinary methods, such as the specific gravity bottle. 



Q. Then, is the use of the lactometer, for instance, in determin- 

 ing the question of the watering of milk as accurate as that other 

 method you named ? A. Unquestionably, for such a purpose as 

 this there can be no doubt, for in this extreme accuracy is not in 

 any way necessary ; the question of a tenth of a degree, more or 

 less, of course is outside of the limits that are involved in such an 

 inquiry as this. 



Q. Are the indications upon the hydrometers of this class of 

 instruments under the -circumstances related relied upon even where 

 large sums of money are involved by those who use them ? 



(Objected to ; objection overruled ; exception.) 



Q. Does any difficulty present itself in the use of the lactometer 

 beyond that which is found in the use of these other similar instru- 

 ments ? A. That for instance with alcohol we have a perfectly 

 fixed body, alcohol ; in the case of milk we have a body which 

 varies within certain limits ; therefore, in the case of alcohol we can 

 have a precise determination, because we start with a certain known 

 basis perfectly defined ; in the case of milk we have not that fixed 

 known basis, and hence we cannot so precisely and definitely say 

 just how much water may be mixed with the milk, as this will 



