REMARKS  ON  THE  ANALYSIS  OF  BRANDY. 
121 
3d.  Detection  of  Bitter  Almond  Oil,  Almond  Cake  aud  Cherry 
Laurel  Water. 
Should  either  of  these  be  sought  for,  the  pharmaceutist  takes 
the  distillate  obtained  in  process,  first,  for  the  purpose  of  estima- 
ting percentage  of  the  alcohol,  and  adds  to  it  a  small  amount  of 
caustic  potassa  solution,  enough  to  give  it  a  distinctly  alkaline 
reaction,  and  evaporates  to  a  small  bulk.  To  this  liquid  add  a  few 
drops  of  a  solution  containing  a  mixture  of  proto-  and  sesqui- 
sulphate  of  iron,  add  now  hydrochloric  acid,  to  a  decided  acid 
reaction.  If  the  liquid  assumes  a  blue  tint,  the  brandy  has 
been  flavored  with  cherry  laurel  water,  oil  of  bitter  almonds, 
or  almond  cake.  To  those  who  desire  a  still  more  delicate  reac- 
tion, the  "Liebig  sulpho-cyanide  test"  is  recommended. 
To  the  distillate  obtained  in  the  first  process  as  above,  caustic 
potassa  solution  is  added,  the  bulk  of  spirit  reduced  as  before, 
by  evaporation  on  a  water  bath.  Hydrochloric  acid  is  added 
to  an  acid  reaction,  and  then  a  few  drops  of  sulphide  of  am- 
monia solution  (NH4S-{-HS,)  and  the  whole  heated  until  color- 
less. 
If  now  perchloride  of  iron  solution  be  added  (a  few  drops 
only,)  the  liquid  assumes  a  blood  red  color  if  prussic  acid  or  its 
compounds  were  present. 
4th.  Detection  of  aromatics  and  acid  substances. 
The  residual  liquor  in  the  retort  is  evaporated  to  the  consist- 
ency of  simple  syrup,  and  the  taste  will  generally  detect  their 
presence. 
Pure  brandy  should  leave  no  such  substances  as  a  resi- 
duum. 
5th.  Detection  of  the  metals. 
For  the  method  of  detecting  these,  ample  directions  are  given 
under  their  individual  names  in  our  national  Dispensatory.  In 
addition  to  Gay  Lussac's  and  Molnar's  test,  that  of  Prof.  E. 
Kent  of  New  York,  by  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  can  be  used. 
Detroit,  Mich.,  Jan.  10th,  1862. 
