matter by a peculiar species of fermentation. The change, to which 

 I allude, is one which takes place in the product of the vinous fer- 

 mentation ; and which seems to point out a strong analogy between 

 that species of fermentation and the process of bituminization, 



In the vinous fermentation, during the stage of sensible effer- 

 vescence, as has been already observed, a considerable quantity of 

 oxygen is dissipated, in a gaseous form, in combination with a por- 

 tion of carbon, sufficient to form with it carbonic acid gas : this 

 escape of these two principles, leaving, we may suppose, an in- 

 creased proportion of hydrogen in the remaining mixture. In the 

 next stage of the process, that which is accomplished in the closed 

 vessels, part of the remaining oxygen, which is denied the oppor- 

 tunity of thus liberating itself, with carbon, in a gaseous form, en- 

 ters into another kind of combination with the same principle, 

 and forms the acid of the wine ; which, according to the opinion of 

 Fourcroy, is the malic acid : whilst the hydrogen, uniting with ano- 

 ther part of the oxygen, and holding a portion of carbon in solution, 

 forms with it the spirituous or intoxicating part ; the whole forming 

 WINE. This vinous fluid being subjected to the distillatory pro- 

 cess, a new arrangement of these principles ensues : and a combi- 

 nation of them, in which hydrogen is highly predominant, comes 

 over in the form of ALCOHOL, 



If to this alcohol an acid, but particularly the sulphuric, be 

 added> then a substance will be separated, by distillation, the most 

 light and inflammable of all fluids, termed ETHER; and which, in 

 consequence of its possessing these properties of the purest fluid 

 bitumen, is often described by the same name, naphtha. But if 

 the distillation be continued beyond this, a heavier and less vola- 

 tile fluid comes over, containing a larger dose of carbon ; and is 

 called, from its oily appearance, the oil of wine ; a gas being also 

 at the same time separated, which, on being mixed with the oxy- 

 genized muriatic acid gas, actually produces an oil possessing 



