26 i 
ALCOHOL IN FERMENTED LIQUORS. 
State of alco- Finding that the separation of alcohol by subcarbonate of 
!;d\i"juors?^" * potash from mixtures of spirit and water, was nearly com- 
plete, and, that ccjlouring extractive matter, and tartaric acid, 
might be removed from such mixtures by tlte subacetate of 
lead, I proceeded to examine wine by such modes of analysis. 
The following results were obtained by these, and other 
comparative experiments. 
1 . One part by measure of a concentrated solution of sub- 
acetate of lead, was added to eight measures of common port 
wine : the mixture having been agitated for a few minutes, was 
poured upon a tilter. — The filtrated liquor was perfectly colour- 
less, and the addition of dry subcarbonate of potash effected a 
-rapid separation of alcohol*. 
] 00 measures of the wine thus treated, afforded 22,5 mea- 
sures of alcohol. 
2. Eight ounces of the wine employed in the last experi- 
ment, were distilled in glass vessels, as described in my former 
paper. — The specific gravity of the distilled liquor at the tem- 
perature of OO” was 0 , 97530 , which indicates 22,30 per cent, 
by measure of alcohol of the specific gravity of ,8250. 
3 Eight ounces of the same wine were introduced into a 
retort placed in a sand heat, and the process of distillation 
was stopped when six ouneds had passed over into the receiver. 
After the vessels were completely cooled, the portion in the 
receiver was added to the residuum in the retort. The specific 
gravity of this mixture (ascertained with proper precautions) 
was ,9884, that of the original wine = 0,9883t- 
tallied in the mixture. So that in the examination of wines containing 
loss tlian 12 per cent, of alcohol, the method described in the toxt is 
somewhat exceptionable. The above experiments were.inade in glass 
tubes varying in diameter from 05, inch to 2 inches, and acciiratciy gra- 
■ dilated into 100 parts. 
• When any cxcers of the snbaeetate had been employed, a portion 
of carbonate of lead was thrown down ; but lliis did not inlcrfcre with 
ilie subsequent separation of tiio, alcohol. 
t Thus experiment was suggested in the Edinburgh Review for No- 
feinber, tail. 
Whe» 
