MALT LIQUORS. 309 



A few of the samples examined by this test gave a slight turbidity 

 with barium chloride, viz : Serial Nos. 4804-6-10-13 and 14, while only 

 one, No. 4815, gave sufficient precipitate to justify the assertion that a 

 sulphite had. been added to it. I have not been able to find any re- 

 corded instance of sulphurous acid being found in American beers. 



BORAX. 



This agent, although used very extensively in preserving meats, veg- 

 etables, and canned goods, does not seem to have been applied to malt 

 liquors to any great extent, although it has been found in wines. Its 

 use is prohibited iii France and Germany. The test for boracic acid is 

 best applied to the ash. If this is rubbed up with water acidulated with 

 a little hydrochloric acid and a piece of turmeric paper dipped into the 

 solution and then dried, it will show a peculiar reddish tint if borax be 

 present. For a very delicate test a large quantity of the liquid to be 

 tested may be evaporated to a sirup, with a slight addition of sulphuric 

 acid, the residue extracted with alcohol, and the latter ignited. The 

 edges of the flame will be colored green if borax is present. None of 

 the samples examined gave any test for borax. 



In conclusion of the work on preservatives, it may be noted that it 

 was done during the cold weather of January, February, and March. It 

 is quite probable that during warm weather the use of preservative 

 agents is still more general than shown by the analyses. 



MINERAL ADDITIONS. 



The preserve of lead, copper, or zinc, sometimes observed in malt 

 liquors, is due usually to the use of brass faucets or lead pipes by the re- 

 tailer in drawing off the liquor or in tilling bottles. The amount of these 

 metals taken up by acid liquors in this way is quite small usually, but 

 may be considerable if they are long left in contact with the metallic 

 surface. Thus the first glass drawn from a faucet in the morning is apt 

 to contain considerable copper and zinc in solution. In Paris the appa- 

 ratus used for drawing beer is subject to supervision, and a frequent 

 cleansing and proper kind of material is insisted on. The Brooklyn De- 

 partment of Health issued an order in 1886 prohibiting the use of unpro- 

 tected brass faucets in drawing beer, but its enforcement has not been 

 insisted on. 1 Analyses made for the board by Otto Grothe of ales drawn 

 through pumps showed small quantities of copper, zinc, and lead in 

 every case. 2 



Alum is sometimes used as a clarifying agent in the brewing of beer. 

 The method of detecting the presence of the metals in liquors need 

 not be dwelt on here. It is best performed in the ash from a large quan- 

 tity of the suspected sample. 



1 Annual Report Dept. Health, City of Brooklyn, 1886, p. 87 ; and 1887, p. 63. 

 2 Ibid. 



4450 No. 13, pt. 3 4 



