86 TiMEHRI. 



ether that rum owes its chara6leristic odour. Unfortu- 

 nately, coming over with the " heads," it has to be in a 

 great measure sacrificed for the produ6lion of a 

 pure spirit, 



Ethylic acetate is always present in rum. It boils at 

 a somewhat higher temperature than the formate, but 

 under that of alcohol; it also comes over in the first- 

 runnings. In a dilute state it has the pleasant smell of 

 fruit. It is not lost in keeping, and in a rum with free 

 acetic acid, the amount is increased. 



Alcohol boils at 173 deg. F., and is a perfeftly colour- 

 less liquid at ordinary temperatures. Its other properties 

 are well known. Its a6lion in strong doses is that of a 

 narcotic poison. Absolute alcohol is 75*25 deg. over 

 proof. 



3. Ethylic butyrate, the remaining ethereal salt that is 

 found in rum, has a boiling point of 248 deg. F. It 

 possesses a pine-apple odour. It is made commercially 

 as a fruit essence, and constitutes the greater part of 

 " Rum Essence " used in manufafturing fa6litious rums. 



4. The mixture of higher alcohols generally termed 

 ^^ Fusel oil'' has a boiling point of about 266 deg. F.> 

 but not being a definite compound no exa6l boiling point 

 can be fixed. It is a mixture in varying proportions of 

 propyl, butyl, and amyl alcohols, besides some oils of 

 high boiling point. The propyl alcohol boils at about 

 200 deg. and has a pleasant fruity smell ; butyl alcohol has 

 a most unpleasant odour and boils at about 227 deg. F. ; 

 while amyl alcohol boils at a much higher temperature 

 and has a strong smell and burning taste. They are all 

 poisonous, amyl being the worst. Their intoxicating 

 effe6t is in the order I have taken them, amyl being 



