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XV.
THE
PROCESS
OF
THE
MANUFACTURE
OF
VINEGAR
IN
TWENTY-FOUR
HOURS,
BY
THE
CONVERSION
OF
ALCOHOL
INTO
ACETIC
ACID.
THIS
process
of
manufacturing
acetic
acid,
or
pure
vinegar,
has
superseded
that
of
all
others,
both
in
Europe
and
America.
This
is
owing
to
the
many
advantages
that
it
presents.
Among
the
most
prominent
may
be
noticed
its
rapid
formation
or
acetification.
The
rationale
of
the
conversion
of
whiskey
and
water
into
vinegar
may
be
necessary
to
explain.
Liebig
supposes
that
it
takes place
in
consequence
of
the
formation
of
a
new
substance,
called
aldehyd,
into
which
the
alcohol
is
changed
by
the
loss
of
a
part
of
its
hydrogen.
The
alcohol,
consisting
of
four
equals
of
carbon,
six
of
hydrogen,
and two
of
oxygen,
loses
two
equals
of
hydrogen
through
the
influence