268 
plint's natural histoet. 
[Book XIY. 
to which he giVes the name of tortivum," meaning that 
which is pressed out the very last of all. For the purpose of 
colouring wine we also add certain substances as a sort of pig- 
ment, and these have a tendency to give it a body as well. 
By such poisonous sophistications is this beverage compelled 
to suit our tastes, and then we are surprised that it is inju- 
rious in its effects ! 
It is a proof that wine is beginning to turn bad, if a plate of 
lead, on being put in it, changes its colour."*^ 
CHAP. 26. VI]S^EGAE LEES OF WINE. 
It is a peculiarity of wine, among the liquids, to become 
mouldy, or else to turn to vinegar. There are whole volumes 
which treat of the various methods of preventing this. 
The lees of wine when dried will take fire and burn without 
the addition of fuel: the ashes so produced have very much the 
nature of nitre, and similar virtues ; the more so, indeed, the 
more unctuous they are to the touch. 
CHAP. 27. (21.) — WlNE-VESSELS WIJTE-CELLAES. 
The various methods of keeping and storing wines in the 
cellar are very different. In the vicinity of the Alps, they put 
their wines in wooden vessels hooped around during their 
cold winters, they even keep lighted fires, to protect the wines 
from the effects of the cold. It is a singular thing to men- 
tion, but still it has been occasionally seen, that these vessels 
have burst asunder, and there has stood the wine in frozen 
masses ; a miracle almost, as it is not ordinarily the nature of 
wine to freeze, cold having only the effect of benumbing it. 
In more temperate climates, they place their wines in dolia,'^^ 
which they bury in the earth, either covering them entirely or 
in part, according to the temperature. Sometimes, again, they 
expose their wines in the open air, while at others they are 
placed beneath sheds for protection from the atmosphere. 
The second " squeezings." 
If the wine is turning to vinegar, subacetate of lead will be formed. 
They are tartrates, and have no affinity at all with nitre. 
Casks, in fact, similar to those used in France at the present day. In 
Spain they use earthen jars and the skins of animals. 
Oblong earthen vessels, used as vats. 
