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ALCOHOL.
—
Alcohol,
which
is
the
living
characteristic
or
principle
of
wines,
spirits,
beer,
and
all
in-
toxicating
liquors,
is
produced
from
numerous
sources;
all
vegetables
containing
farina
or
saccha-
rine
matter
can
be
employed
to
obtain
alcohol.
The
various
peculiarity
of
flavour,
&c.,
in
the
different
spirits,
is
owing
to
some
alien
substance,
as
an
essential
oil,
and
other
causes
;
for
the
basis
is
the
same,
from
whatever
source
derived.
Absolute,
or
pure,
Alcohol,
is
a
limpid,
colourless
fluid,
of
agreeable
smell
;
it
readily
absorbs
water,
and
unless
it
be
carefully
protected,
it
soon
loses
its
purity
:
pure
alcohol
never
freezes.
Proof
Spirit
is
a
term
used
when
spirit
is
proved
of
the
proper
strength
;
that
is
when
it is
found
to
contain
two
pints
of
rectified
spirits
of
wine
with
one
of
distilled
water.