Cooley's Cyclopaedia of Practical Receipts Volume I Part 23

22077 / 88 = 251 gal. (nearly).

That is, 25-1/10 gal. of such spirit would contain 100 lbs. of absolute alcohol.

By removing the decimal point one place to the _right_, we have the equiv.

measure of 1000 lbs. By removing it one, two, or three places to the _left_, we have it respectively for 10 lbs., 1 lb., and 1/10 lb.; from which the equiv. for all other weights may be easily obtained.

By reversing the above operation, the measure of alcohol corresponding to any given weight of spirit, at any strength, may also be easily found.

The weight of 1 gal. of absolute alcohol being 7938 lbs.; that of 1 gal.

of proof spirit, 92 lbs,; and that of the 'alcohol' in 1 gal. of proof spirit, 453 lbs.; the weight of any number of gallons or volumes of either, and their equivalents, may be easily found. Thus:--

gallons of alc. 7938 = lbs. weight of alc.

" pf. sp. 92 = lbs. w. of pf. spt.

and--

gallons of alc. 16121 = lbs. weight of pf. spt.

" pf. spt. 453 = content in lbs. weight of alc.

In these cases a knowledge of the first four rules of decimal fractions is necessary, or, at least, advantageous; as the Excise officers carry their calculations to two figures of decimals, or 1/100ths. Their plan is to reject the third decimal figure when less than 5; but to carry 1 to the next figure on the left hand, when it exceeds 5. Thus, 5432 is set down as only 543; but 5437 is written 544. In the delicate chemical processes of the laboratory, even greater accuracy is observed.

Formerly, spirit was said to be 1 to 3, 1 to 4, &c., over-proof, by which it was meant that 1 gal. of water added to 3 or 4 gals. of such spirit would reduce it to 'proof.' On the other hand, 1 in 5, or 1 in 8, under-proof, meant that the 5 or 8 gals., as the case might be, contained 1 gal. of water, and the remainder represented the quant.i.ty of 'proof spirit.' This method of calculation has now long given way to the 'centigrade system,' which not only admits of greater accuracy, but is quite as simple. It should be adopted by every spirit-dealer in England, from being that which is employed by the Revenue officers, whose 'surveys'

it is absolutely necessary that the trader should understand, in order that his own estimation of his stock and his business calculations should correspond with theirs.

Several other methods of alcoholometry, besides those already noticed, have been adopted at various times, but the majority of them possess so little accuracy as to be quite inapplicable to the purposes of trade, and of the laboratory. Thus, the strength was at one time estimated by what was called the 'proof.' A little of the spirit was poured upon a small quant.i.ty of gunpowder, contained in a spoon or saucer, so as just to moisten it, and was then inflamed. If at the end of the combustion the gunpowder took fire, the spirit was held to be 'above proof,' if it only languidly fizzed away, or slowly burnt, the spirit was said to be 'proof,'

but if the gunpowder failed to ignite, the spirit was esteemed 'below proof.' Hence arose the terms 'proof' and 'proof spirit,' which have since been adopted by Act of Parliament. Another method was that of dropping oil into the spirit; if the oil floated, the spirit was considered to be 'under proof,' if it sunk, it was rated as 'proof' or 'over-proof.' The 'gunpowder test' is quite fallacious; for, if a certain quant.i.ty of a spirit is capable of firing the gunpowder, a little excess of a spirit 20% or 25% stronger will often fail to do so, so much water being formed as to prevent the ignition. The 'PREUVE D'HOLLAND' test, of the French, or the 'BEAD,' is still frequently employed by persons unacquainted with the use of the hydrometer. It consists in shaking the spirit in a phial, and observing the size, number, and duration of the bubbles or beads, as they are called. The larger and more numerous these are, and the more rapidly they break and disappear, the stronger the spirit is presumed to be. This method is unreliable, as the presence of sugar or acid, even in minute quant.i.ties, will sometimes give to a weak sample the appearance of one many degrees stronger. LOVI'S BEADS are also often employed to ascertain approximately the strength of spirit, when a hydrometer is not at hand.

The insufficiency of most of the methods of alcoholometry here referred to, throws us back on the Revenue System (Sykes' hydrometer), or on the specific gravity for unsweetened spirits. For sweetened spirits, as cordials, wines, beers, &c., there are none of the tests which give such accurate results as the distillation test, previously described as the Revenue Method.

The spirituous liquors of commerce being sold by measure, and not by weight, the methods of alcoholometry which give the results, per cent., by volume, are those we have chiefly explained. In the laboratory, the method by weight is that most generally employed in delicate processes and in a.n.a.lyses. By weight, the per-centage of alcohol remains the same for all temperatures, for the same sample; whilst by volume, the per-centage varies with the temperature of the liquid. This variation explains the cause of many of the sudden apparent decreases and increases, which occur in large stocks of spirits. Persons purchasing spirits during very warm weather, and paying for them according to their apparent quant.i.ty and strength, lose considerably by selling the same spirit when the weather becomes colder, without being conscious of such loss from the hydrometer.

The reason of this is obvious, for, whilst the relative proportions of the alcohol to the water continue the same, the sp. gr. and the volume alter with the temperature; the latter being increased by warmth, and decreased by cold, in exact opposition to the former. Accuracy requires, in all cases, that a spirituous liquor should be tested for its strength at the temperature at which it was measured; and measured at the same temperature at which its strength was determined.

A consideration of these facts has led some of the great houses to introduce the system of weighing their spirits, instead of measuring them, the weight of an imperial gallon at 60 Fahr. being taken as the standard gallon. This is the method adopted by the Inland Revenue, at all distilleries, for a.s.sessing the duty, and will be readily understood by the following example:--

Cwts. qrs. lbs.

Gross weight of full cask = 13 2 27 Tare = 2 2 5 ------------ Net weight of spirit = 11 0 22

or 1254 lbs. Let us suppose the hydrometer indication to be 430, the weight per imperial gallon would be 8903 lbs. (see Table VI), and 1254 8903 = 140 gallons.

TABLE VI.--_Table for determining the Weight per Gallon of Spirits by Sykes' Hydrometer._

A = Indication on Sykes' Hydrometer.

B = Weight per Gallon.

A B A B A B A B A B 0 8145 8 8509 6 8878 4 9264 2 9667 2 8157 21 8512 8 8881 6 9267 4 9671 4 8161 2 8516 42 8885 8 9271 6 9674 6 8164 4 8519 2 8889 63 9275 8 9678 8 8168 6 8523 4 8892 2 9279 84 9682 1 8171 8 8526 6 8896 4 9283 2 9686 2 8174 22 8530 8 8899 6 9286 4 9690 4 8178 2 8533 43 8903 8 9290 6 9694 6 8181 4 8537 2 8907 64 9294 8 9698 8 8185 6 8540 4 8911 2 9298 85 9702 2 8188 8 8544 6 8914 4 9302 2 9706 2 8191 23 8547 8 8918 6 9305 4 9710 4 8195 2 8551 44 8922 8 9309 6 9714 6 8198 4 8554 2 8926 65 9313 8 9718 8 8202 6 8558 4 8929 2 9317 86 9722 3 8205 8 8561 6 8933 4 9321 2 9726 2 8208 24 8565 8 8936 6 9324 4 9730 4 8212 2 8568 45 8940 8 9328 6 9733 6 8215 4 8572 2 8944 66 9332 8 9737 8 8219 6 8575 4 8947 2 9336 87 9741 4 8222 8 8579 6 8951 4 9340 2 9745 2 8225 25 8582 8 8954 6 9344 4 9749 4 8229 2 8586 46 8958 8 9348 6 9753 6 8232 4 8589 2 8962 67 9352 8 9757 8 8236 6 8593 4 8965 2 9356 88 9761 5 8239 8 8596 6 8969 4 9360 2 9765 2 8242 26 8600 8 8972 6 9363 4 9769 4 8245 2 8603 47 8976 8 9367 6 9773 6 8249 4 8607 2 8980 68 9371 8 9777 8 8252 6 8610 4 8984 2 9375 89 9781 6 8255 8 8614 6 8987 4 9379 2 9785 2 8258 27 8617 8 8991 6 9382 4 9789 4 8262 2 8620 48 8995 8 9386 6 9792 6 8265 4 8624 2 8999 69 9390 8 9796 8 8269 6 8628 4 9002 2 9394 90 9800 7 8272 8 8631 6 9006 4 9398 2 9804 2 8275 28 8635 8 9009 6 9401 4 9808 4 8279 2 8639 49 9013 8 9405 6 9812 6 8282 4 8642 2 9017 70 9409 8 9816 8 8286 6 8646 4 9021 2 9413 91 9820 8 8289 8 8649 6 9024 4 9417 2 9824 2 8292 29 8653 8 9028 6 9420 4 9828 4 8296 2 8656 50 9032 8 9424 6 9832 6 8299 4 8660 2 9036 71 9428 8 9836 8 8303 6 8663 4 9039 2 9432 92 9840 9 8306 8 8667 6 9043 4 9436 2 9844 2 8309 30 8670 8 9046 6 9440 4 9848 4 8313 2 8674 51 9050 8 9444 6 9852 6 8316 4 8677 2 9054 72 9448 8 9856 8 8320 6 8681 4 9058 2 9452 93 9860 10 8323 8 8684 6 9061 4 9456 2 9864 2 8326 31 8688 8 9065 6 9459 4 9868 4 8330 2 8692 52 9069 8 9463 6 9872 6 8333 4 8695 2 9073 73 9467 8 9876 8 8337 6 8699 4 9076 2 9471 94 9880 11 8340 8 8702 6 9080 4 9475 2 9884 2 8343 32 8706 8 9083 6 9479 4 9888 4 8347 2 8709 53 9087 8 9483 6 9892 6 8350 4 8713 2 9091 74 9487 8 9896 8 8354 6 8716 4 9095 2 9491 95 9900 12 8357 8 8720 6 9098 4 9495 2 9904 2 8361 33 8723 8 9102 6 9498 4 9908 4 8364 2 8727 54 9106 8 9502 6 9913 6 8368 4 8730 2 9110 75 9506 8 9917 8 8371 6 8734 4 9114 2 9510 96 9921 13 8375 8 8737 6 9117 4 9514 2 9925 2 8378 34 8741 8 9121 6 9517 4 9929 4 8382 2 8745 55 9125 8 9521 6 9934 6 8385 4 8748 2 9129 76 9525 8 9938 8 8389 6 8752 4 9132 2 9529 97 9942 14 8392 8 8755 6 9136 4 9533 2 9946 2 8395 35 8759 8 9139 6 9537 4 9950 4 8399 2 8763 56 9143 8 9541 6 9955 6 8402 4 8766 2 9147 77 9545 8 9959 8 8406 6 8770 4 9151 2 9549 98 9963 15 8409 8 8773 6 9154 4 9553 2 9967 2 8412 36 8777 8 9158 6 9557 4 9972 4 8416 2 8781 57 9162 8 9561 6 9976 6 8419 4 8784 2 9166 78 9565 8 9981 8 8423 6 8788 4 9170 2 9569 99 9985 16 8426 8 8791 6 9173 4 9573 2 9989 2 8429 37 8795 8 9177 6 9576 4 9994 4 8433 2 8799 58 9181 8 9580 6 9998 6 8436 4 8802 2 9185 79 9584 8 10003 8 8440 6 8806 4 9189 2 9588 100 10007 17 8443 8 8809 6 9192 4 9592 2 8446 38 8813 8 9196 6 9596 4 8450 2 8817 59 9200 8 9600 6 8453 4 8820 2 9204 80 9604 8 8457 6 8824 4 9207 2 9608 18 8460 8 8827 6 9211 4 9612 2 8464 39 8831 8 9214 6 9615 4 8467 2 8835 60 9218 8 9619 6 8471 4 8838 2 9222 81 9623 8 8474 6 8842 4 9226 2 9627 19 8478 8 8845 6 9229 4 9631 2 8481 40 8849 8 9233 6 9635 4 8485 2 8853 61 9237 8 9639 6 8488 4 8856 2 9241 82 9643 8 8492 6 8860 4 9245 2 9647 20 8495 8 8863 6 9248 4 9651 2 8498 41 8867 8 9252 6 9655 4 8502 2 8871 62 9256 8 9659 6 8505 4 8874 2 9260 83 9663

? For further information in connection with _Alchoholometry_ see ALCOHOL, BEER, BREWING, DISTILLATION, EBULLIOSCOPE, HYDROMETER, HYDROMETRY, LIQUEURS, MALT-LIQUORS, ORGANIC SUBSTANCES, SACCHARINE, SPECIFIC GRAVITY, SPIRIT, SUGAR, SYRUPS, TINCTURES, WINE, WORT, &c. &c.

=ALCOHOL; EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLISM.= Without entering into the controversy as to whether the moderate consumption of alcohol, or its total disuse, is the more conducive to personal health and comfort--whether, as Dr Anstie and others have a.s.serted it acts, when prudently taken, as a food--or whether, as other medical authorities contend, even its moderate use is a disturbing factor in the human economy--there need be no qualification of the a.s.sertion, that when the drinking of spirituous liquids of any kind is indulged in to excess, the habit, if persisted in, must sooner or later terminate in impaired health, serious disease, and premature death.

A powerful array of facts could be brought in support of this statement.

For instance, in NELSON'S statistics we find it mentioned that--

A temperate person's An intemperate person's chance of living is-- chance of living is-- At 20 = 442 years. At 20 = 156 years.

" 30 = 365 " " 30 = 138 "

" 40 = 288 " " 40 = 116 "

" 50 = 2125 " " 50 = 108 "

" 60 = 14285 " " 60 = 89 "

The average duration of life after the commencement of habits of intemperance is--

Among mechanics, working and labouring men 18 years.

" traders, dealers, and merchants 17 "

" professional men and gentlemen 15 "

" females 14 "

Again, Dr d.i.c.kinson, writing "on the morbid effects of alcohol in persons who trade in liquor," gave the results of an examination of 149 traders in liquor, as compared with 149 persons of various trades. The general results were diseases of the liver much more common in those who dealt in alcoholic drinks. In the lungs tubercle affected sixty-one persons of the alcoholic, forty-four of the non-alcoholic.

Tubercle in the brain, liver, kidneys, spleen, bowels, mesenteric glands, and peritoneum were twice as common in the alcoholic as in the non-alcoholic. The verdict, therefore, is unavoidable that alcohol (in excess) engenders tubercle in the brain, inflammations, atrophy, haemorrhages; in the heart and vessels atheroma, hypertrophy, and other affections, were all more common in the alcoholic than in the non-alcoholic series. The evidence in kidney disease did not appear so conclusive, but some forms of kidney disease appear to be increased. The author sums up thus:--"Alcohol causes fatty infiltration and fibroid encroachment; it engenders tubercle, encourages suppuration, and r.e.t.a.r.ds healing; it produces untimely atheroma, invites haemorrhage, and antic.i.p.ates age. The most constant fatty change, replacement by oil of the material of epithelial cells and muscular fibres, though probably nearly universal, is most noticeable in the liver, the heart, and the kidney."

Alcohol also seems to be the cause of special diseases, besides those more common and generally known ones, delirium tremens, alcoholism, &c. Of these we may mention one recorded by M. GALEZOWSKI, a peculiar affection of the eyes, which the doctor found very prevalent during the siege of Paris in 1870-1. In the five months of the siege fifty patients were affected by it, whilst during the twelve months preceding the siege only nineteen were to be found. Dr GALOWSKI ascribed the malady to the habit of taking alcoholic drinks in the morning fasting. A peculiar kind of palsy has also been referred to alcoholic poisoning.

The following table, compiled by Dr Joseph Williams, lends support to the fact that an indulgence in alcohol is either the cause of insanity, or that it tends to its increase:

Proportion Total caused by admission. intemperance.

Charenton 855 134 Bicetre and Salpetriere 2012 414 Bordeaux 156 20 Turin, 1830-31 158 17 " 1831-36 390 76 Gard 209 4 United States 551 146 Palermo 189 9 Caen 60 16 Dundee 14 4 M. Parchappe 167 46 M. Batten 288 54 ---- --- 5019 940

Commenting on these figures, Mr Walter Blyth remarks, "There may be another explanation of the fact that many mad people have been great drinkers. A large proportion of those subject to insanity are driven by their morbid minds to drink; so that it may be that insanity causes drink, and not drink causes insanity."

Many medical writers who are no advocates for the total abandonment of alcohol limit its consumption, in healthy people, to one or two fluid ounces a day, in the form of wine, beer, or spirits and water; two fluid ounces is, we believe, the quant.i.ty apportioned daily to every able-bodied seaman in the Royal Navy. Any slight habitual departure from this standard--even when the evidences of excess are not perceptible to others--all authority, historical, pathological, and physiological (unless it be given as a medicine), shows to be injurious. The researches of Anstie, Parkes, and Count Wollowicz, appear to prove that any quant.i.ty of alcohol exceeding an ounce and a half taken by an adult showed itself in the urine, a circ.u.mstance which these writers look upon as tending to show that the system has taken more alcohol than can be used in the body itself. In slight doses the action of alcohol is to produce a sedative effect upon the nerves, to redden slightly the lining membrane of the stomach, and to stimulate the secretion of the gastric juice.

Thus, in small doses alcohol may, and doubtless does, promote appet.i.te. In excess, however, all these effects are turned to evil, and then ensue an inflammatory condition of the stomach, compression of the gland ducts from thickening of the tissue around them, excessive mucous secretion, and great loss of appet.i.te. When carried into the circulation it greatly increases the force of the heart's action, and at the same time paralyses, as it were, the restraining nervous supply to the arteries and small vessels, so that they can no longer oppose themselves to the blood-current, but dilate. This action in a small degree, occurring in persons of a weak and languid circulation, is no doubt beneficial; on the other hand, when in excess, it is most dangerous, and is a cause of the greater part of the diseases of the heart and great vessels.

"There appears to be a slight fall of temperature with moderate doses of alcohol, a very decided fall with excessive doses; the muscular and nervous systems are transitorily stimulated, and may do more work when small doses are given in cases of fatigue, but in other cases there is a marked torpor of the nervous and a want of co-ordination of the muscular system."--BLYTH.

Notwithstanding the researches of Percy, Strauch, Masing, Lallemand, Duroy, Parkes, Dupre, Anstie, Thudichum, and others, there is still a considerable divergence of opinion as to how alcohol is eliminated from the body. By some of the authorities just named it is affirmed to be eliminated as aldehyd, by others as carbonic acid; as to the latter, the experiments of Dr E. Smith show that the carbonic acid is decreased when brandy and gin are drunk, and increased by rum.

The only probable supposition, which facts support, tends to show that the alcohol is turned into acetic acid in the body, some of which unites with potash and other bases, and some is destroyed. All are pretty well agreed that in the form of spirits alcohol as a food is valueless, but that in the form of beer and wine it is possessed of a slight dietetic power, naturally varying with the amount and nature of the different substances held in solution in these beverages.

The imports of spirits into this country, in the seven years from 1850 to 1857, amounted to 70,740,980 gallons; whilst the imports in the seven years following, viz. from 1857 to 1864, were 78,016,071 gallons, showing an increase of 7,305,091 gallons. The population has, however, increased in the time, and a deduction on that account, as well as correction on one or two other heads, are required; still, that there is an increase is indisputable.

As respects France, a considerable increase in the consumption of spirits has taken place of late years, as the following table by M. Husson will ill.u.s.trate:

_The Mean Consumption of Spirits for each Inhabitant._

Litres. Litres.