316 SUBSTANCES FOUND TO POSSESS 



and dextrin, and out of this mixture ferment can be 

 formed. And if under these circumstances oenanthic 

 acid be formed, it would be because oxygen had been 

 withdrawn from the sugar by the formation of that 

 ferment matter from vegetable gluten, which is soluble 

 in water and richer in oxygen than vegetable gluten. 



If oenanthic acid be C 14 H 14 O 3 , then we should 

 have for example 



2 equiv. sugar .... C 24 H 24 O 24 



(Enanthic acid C 14 H 14 O 3 



Alcohol C 4 HS O 2 



Carbonic acid C<5 O 15 * 



Water H 4 O 4 



Oxygen abstracted for the forma- 

 tion of ferment ... O 3 



If oenanthic acid be pelargonic acid, C 18 H 18 O 4 , 

 then we have 



Sugar C 24 H 24 O 24 



Pelargonic acid C 18 H 18 O* 



Alcohol C 4 H6 02 



Carbonic acid C 2 O 4 



Ox3 r gen abstracted for formation of 



ferment. .... O 14 



I have given the two formulae on account of the 

 doubtful composition of the oenanthic acid. Whoever 

 wishes to test this formation must let sugar ferment 

 with yeast, air being excluded, otherwise the air 

 furnishes the oxygen which is necessary to decom- 

 pose the ferment. 



Soon after the formation of oenanthic acid in wine, 

 the peculiar vinous smell is developed, that is, oenanthic 



