134 VINEGAR, CIDER, AND FRUIT-WINES. 



removed as fast as it augments, the animalcules soon spread over 

 the entire fluid. 



From the above explanation it is evident that the appearance 

 of vinegar eels in large masses threatens danger to the regular 

 working. When the animalcules reach the shavings the struggle 

 for existence between them and the ferment commences, and their 

 struggling to dislodge the latter may be the first cause of the 

 formation of slimy masses of mother of vinegar upon the shavings. 

 Since the vinegar eels consume oxygen the air in the generators 

 becomes thereby less suitable for the nourishment of the ferment 

 and consequently the generators will work feebly. By accelera- 

 ting the draught of air in the generators, which is generally the 

 first remedy tried, the development of the ferment may again 

 become so vigorous that a large portion of the vinegar eels are 

 killed, their bodies being found in the vinegar running off. - The 

 dead vinegar eels remaining in the generator, however, finally 

 putrefy and give rise to the previously mentioned disagreeable 

 odor. The processes of putrefaction being also effected by bacteria 

 capable of decomposing nearly all known organic combinations 

 (even small quantities of such strongly antiseptic bodies as salicylic 

 and carbolic acids), it is evident that vinegar containing vinegar 

 eels cannot possess good keeping qualities and must be subjected 

 to a special treatment, which will be referred to later on. 



Several remedies for the suppression of vinegar eels in the 

 generators have been proposed, one of them consisting of the 

 introduction of vapors of burning sulphur, i. e. 9 sulphurous acid. 

 Sulphurous acid, it is true, kills the vinegar eels but, at the same 

 time, the vinegar ferment, and if small remnants remain, also the 

 newly introduced ferment. To restore a generator thus treated a 

 large quantity of air must be blown through it which will remove 

 the last traces of sulphurous acid. An alcoholic liquid containing 

 much living ferment is then poured in. 



The vinegar ferment can for many hours stand the exclusion of 

 oxygen without being destroyed while the vinegar eels die in a 

 short time. This circumstance may be utilized for the destruction 

 of the animalcules without recourse to other remedies. The 

 generator having first been brought into the highest state of 

 activity by pouring in very warm alcoholic liquid and opening 



