146 AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL IN WINE. 



distillation to continue till at least half is distilled 

 over. If the density of the liquid which has been 

 distilled is such as to give 25 per cent, alcohol at the 

 above-mentioned temperature, then 25 divided by 2 

 gives the alcoholic contents of the wine at 12-| per 

 cent. 



The bottle-shaped cylinder measuring- glass may be 

 dispensed with, for if 100 parts of 200 cubic centime- 

 tres of wine be distilled, and sufficient water be added 

 to it after distillation is over to make it again 200 C. C., 

 the specific gravity of this liquid will, at a uniform 

 temperature, give the exact alcoholic contents of the 

 wine. This last process is not, however, advisable in 

 the case of weak wines, or when the areometer is to 

 be employed, to determine the density, as it is less easy 

 to read it accurately when the liquid is very watery 

 than when it contains more alcohol. 



Simple as this method of determining the quantity 

 of alcohol is, one still simpler has been sought. And 

 perhaps when many kinds of wine are to be examined, 

 a method by which the result desired may be more 

 speedily attained is necessary. For this purpose an 

 instrument has been recommended which, though dif- 

 ferently put together by Brossard-Vidal, Conaty, and 

 Lerebours, is nevertheless founded on the same prin- 

 ciple. 



Alcohol boils at a low temperature, water at a 

 higher, a mixture of alcohol and water always at a 

 lower temperature than water alone, and that in 



