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26
MANUFACTURE
OF
WINES,
COEDIALS,
&C.
tifying
alcohol.
The
plan
consists
in
the
saponifica-
tion
of
the
grain
oil
by
the
aid of
potassa,
and
sepa-
rating
this
product
from
the
spirit
by
straining.
With
some
this
process
has
failed,
owing
to
the
fact
that the
potassa
did
not
attack
the
oil.
CHARCOAL
("
VEGETABLE")
Is
used
for
rectifying
spirit.
The
charcoal
acts
by
absorbing
the
grain
oil.
Vegetable
charcoal
is
infe-
rior
to
animal
charcoal.
The
common
objection
urged
against
the
use
of
animal
charcoal
is
the
pecu-
liar
aminoniacal
fetor
that
it
imparts
to
the
liquor
that
is
filtered
through
it.
This,
it
must
be
obvious,
is
owing
to
the
animal
matter
not
being
entirely
driven
off
by
burning.
As
a
decolorizing
agent,
vegetable
is
inferior
to
animal
charcoal.
COCHINEAL.
i
Cochineal.
This
insect
is
found
wild
in
Mexico,
and
as
a
coloring
substance
it
is
one
of
the
most
useful
that
we
have,
and
is
suited
for
all
kinds
ol
liquors
that
are
dependent
upon
red
as
a
color.
Cochineal
is
soluble
in
water
and
alcohol,
but
more
so
in
boiling
alcohol.