136 VINEGAR, CIDER, AND FRUIT- WINES. 



a flat plate. The cover of the vessel luted air-tight with clay is 

 provided with three openings. The opening in the centre is 

 closed by a well-fitting clay stopper, while glass tubes bent at a 

 right angle and with a clear diameter of about J inch are 

 cemented in the openings at the side. The tube reaching nearly 

 down to the plate is connected by means of a rubber hose with a 

 double-acting bellows, while the second tube leading directly from 

 the cover is connected with a second clay vessel. From the cover 

 of this vessel a pipe leads to, and is fitted into, the open draught- 

 hole of the generator. 



For use the apparatus is put together, as shown in the illustra- 

 tion, and small pieces of sulphur are thrown through the cen- 

 tral aperture upon the plate. The sulphur is ignited by throw- 

 ing in a lighted sulphur match, and after closing the aperture the 

 bellows is put in operation. The product of the combustion of 

 the sulphur passes through the tube into the generator, and as- 

 cending dissolves the fluid adhering to the shavings to sulphurous 

 acid. The addition of sulphur and blowing in of air are con- 

 tinued until the odor of burning sulphur is clearly perceptible in 

 the upper portion of the generator. The second vessel which 

 contains some water serves for the condensation of the portion of 

 the sulphur which is not consumed, but only volatilized. 



The sulphurous acid kills every living organism in the gene- 

 rator, and consequently all the germs of the vinegar ferment are 

 also destroyed. 



After allowing the sulphured generator to stand a few hours, 

 fresh air alone is forced through it by means of the bellows ; the 

 air-holes are then opened and the generator allowed to stand a 

 few days for the sulphurous acid to be converted into sulphuric 

 acid by the absorption of oxygen. To bring this generator again 

 into operation it is best to introduce at first a number of pourings 

 consisting only of vinegar, with a content of acetic acid corre- 

 sponding to that of the original acidulation. In consequence of 

 the absorption of sulphuric acid by the shavings this vinegar be- 

 comes of no value as a commercial article, but it can be used for 

 the preparation of alcoholic liquid. 



The last traces of unchanged sulphurous acid having in this 

 manner been removed from the generators and the greater portion 



