THE ELEMENTS OF PLANT FOOD 



Water 



placed in a boiler and heat is applied. The heat pro- 

 duces a vapor which is made up of alcohol and water 



with some other 

 substances. The 

 vapor is conducted 

 through a tube to a 

 condenser. Here 

 the tube is contin- 

 ued in the form of 

 a spiral, called the 

 worm. Cold water 

 is passed through 

 the condenser con- 

 tinuously so that 

 the worm is kept 

 cool. This con- 

 denses the vapor 

 passing through it. 

 This product is largely a mixture of alcohol, water, and 

 other alcohols, called fusel oil. The water may be par- 

 tially removed by further distillation. 



The water cannot be entirely removed by distilla- 

 tion, but a product containing about 96 per cent of 

 alcohol may be obtained by this process. By other 

 methods all the water may be removed and the prod- 

 uct is absolute alcohol. 



Notes. Fusel oil, found in distilled liquors, is extremely poisonous. 

 Proof spirits is a low grade of alcohol that contains just enough 

 alcohol to burn (49 per cent) . 



Many intoxicating beverages depend upon alcohol 

 for their intoxicating principle. These beverages are 

 merely alcohol with water and a small amount of the 



FIG. 10. A Still. 

 (From Davison's The Human Body and Health.) 



