FABRICATION OF VINEGAR. 129 



activity of the generators by the addition of a little oil of cloves 

 or salicylic acid which have the property of checking fermenta- 

 tion. Salicylic acid, especially, is an excellent corrective for the 

 faulty working of a generator ; it has to be used, however, with 

 great caution and only be added by the T-Q JTF or f the weight of 

 the alcoholic liquid and just in sufficient quantity to attain the 

 desired result. A large amount is injurious to the ferment and 

 might kill it. 



" Sliming" of the Generators. 



The phenomenon to which this term is applied belongs to a 

 class of disturbances which sometimes occur in a vinegar factory, 

 and whose progress generally ends in throwing the entire operation 

 into complete disorder so that finally no more vinegar can be pro- 

 duced. After fruitless experiments nothing remains but to empty 

 the generators, wash the shavings with hot water, and, after drying 

 and steeping them in hot vinegar, as in the commencement of the 

 operation, return them to the generator. 



The evil begins to show itself by the generators commencing 

 to work irregularly ; while formerly a certain quantity of alcohol 

 was after a fixed number of pourings converted into acetic acid, 

 a larger number of pourings are now required to attain the same 

 result. The generators work slower and the heat in their interior 

 decreases. By heating the workroom more strongly only a tem- 

 porary improvement is brought about, and the production of the 

 generators becomes less and less, and, finally, so low that work has 

 to be interrupted. When the disturbance has progressed thus far a 

 disagreeable musty, instead of the characteristic acid odor, is per- 

 ceived in the workroom. By allowing one of the faulty working 

 generators to stand for a few days without charging it with alco- 

 holic liquid, the temperature in the interior may rise considerably 

 and products of putrefaction be developed to such an extent as to 

 taint the air of the workroom. 



Long before this phenomenon becomes apparent an alteration 



takes place in the shavings. A shaving taken from a normally 



working generator has the ordinary appearance of wet wood ; but 



one taken from a generator working in the above-mentioned 



9 



