1860 A Treatise on the Manufacture , Imitation, Adulteration and Reduction of Foreign Wines, Brandies, .

DISTILLATION.

167

would probably become greater, because the

alcohol checks the fermentative action, and

eventually stops it, before all the saccharum is

decomposed.

The maximum quantity of proof-spirits ob–

tained on the great scale, at any time, from

raw grain mixed with from one-fourth to one–

eighth of malt, seems to be twenty-two gallons

per quarter.

Bezelius says that there are distillers who

are guilty of putting a little arsenious acid into

the still; that the spirits contain, pretty fre–

quently, traces of arsenic, which may be de–

tected by adding to them a little muriatic acid,

then evaporating off the alcohol, and passing a

current of sulphureted hydrogen gas through

the residuary liquid, which will give it the

characteristic orpiment yellow tinge, arsenic

being present. No arsenic is ever used in

this country.

When

damaged

grain has been mashed in

making whiskey, a peculiar oily substance