132 PUBLIC HEALTH CHEMISTRY 



bottle, adding one-half teaspoonful of sugar and a small 

 piece of cinnamon to each bottle. 



Cider. Is the fermented juice of the apple. Contains 

 about 3 to 5 per cent of alcohol. 



Perry. The fermented juice of the pear ; alcoholic 

 strength tends to be higher than in cider. 



SPIRITS. 



Spirits are all made by the distillation of alcohol produced 

 by the fermentation of various saccharine or starchy 

 materials, such as fruit juices, grain, and molasses. The 

 essential constituent is ethyl alcohol, but they also contain 

 varying proportions of other alcohols, ethers, and other 

 fragrant bodies, and in some cases added substances. 



Ethyl Alcohol (C 2 H 5 -OH) is commonly denoted simply 

 alcohol. It is a liquid which boils at 78 C., and at 20 C. 

 has a sp. gr. of 789. It oxidizes to acetic acid (CH 3 -COOH.) 



Brandy is made by the distillation of fermented grape 

 juice. It is at first colourless, but is stored in casks which 

 give it an amber colour. Sp. gr. is usually about 930, alcohol 

 is 48 to 56 per cent, and total solids are about o-i per cent. 

 Besides alcohol and water, it contains traces of various 

 ethers, aldehydes, and acids (chiefly acetic). Imitation 

 brandy is made from grain spirit flavoured with various 

 esters and oils (cloves, cassia), and coloured with caramel. 



Whiskey or Whisky (Gaelic, uisgebeatha water of 

 life) is made by distillation from malted barley, oats, or 

 rye which has been fermented. It is stored in sherry 

 casks which flavour and colour it. Numerous imitations 

 exist, especially from potato spirit. Alcohol, 44 to 50 per 

 cent ; total solids, 0-15 per cent ; acidity as acetic, o-l 

 per cent. Specific gravity, 935 to 945. 



Rum is made by the distillation of the fermented juice 

 of the sugar cane or from molasses (the drained syrup from 

 which sugar does not crystallize on boiling) and coloured 

 with caramel. Its characteristic odour is due to ethyl 

 butyrate. Alcohol, 40 to 50 per cent ; total solids, 0-7 to 

 1-5 per cent. 



Gin is made by distillation from fermented grain 

 flavoured with juniper berries, oil of turpentine, oil of 



