The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-01-16
ALCOHOL.
A Paper Read Before the w. G. T. U. of Mid.
dlebury by Mrs. Clinton Smith.

lne nlcDhOl IL contains bOllS and passes
of in vapor; the water remains behind,
and the vapor may be passed through
condenser, and very pure form of al
colIol is the result.
The process of distillation is as old a
nature. Man, who claims to be sucl q
wonderful inventor, is only an asst e
copyist. In summer the heated e, tn
gives off vapor which gathers in d. De
as the air cools, and thus the dew, of
of evening are distilled. Old ocean nd
the clouds furnish the alchemy by wi oh
the rain drops are distilled which a
in plenteous showers.
Long ago, away back in the clark
ages" somewhere, after diligently
searching, chemist wrought out the
process of distillation by artificial
means. In his laboratory he could per-
form many wonderful things. He prac-
ticed carefully his art upon wine. He
knew there was subtle influence in
generous wine that fired the blood and
made the heart light. Alchemists had
long sought, and sought in vain to find
the elixir of life. This chemist produc-
ed from the wine which he distilled a
clear aud pungent liquid which he call
ed the spirit of wine, thinking doubt
less that he had disembodied the soul
or all that gave life to wine, so colorless
and clear was 1t, so volatile, SO strong.
1t was kept for ages hidden in the lab
uralory, as precious secret known
only to few and from it they derived
much prestige in necromancy or the
"black art" 1t was called "aqua III
tG," or the water of life, and it is n
grim satire upon those old alchemists
That in seeking it they developed
deadly poison which has burned its wa,
through hearts and homes till the whole
earth is Scared like the brow of Vesuvi-
us. Did the tempter say to them, eve
shall not surely die, We shall be as gods
in order to lead them to seek that which
should bring with il perpetual curse"
This spirit of wine was marvel in
itself. Its preservative qualities were
wonderful. 1t was so volatile that 1t
must be imprisoned in jars and kept air
light or it would fly away and be lost.
II was SO strong that it would dissolve
The various gums and balsams, such a.
nc camphor, etc. II was 80 colorless
hat ii looked like water, but strange TO
ell, 'iwOuld burn; and with bright.
6 ear light without smoke, thus mixing
il valuable IN chemistry. Taken into
he stomach it would effect the brain.
making the driuker melancholy or hila-
rions, according as he was predispospd
and usuailt anoOus, thus making alco-
hel II valuable ingredient in Glove phil
tcrs," which were much sought after IN
one period in the worlds history. Bul
the most DISASTROUS use made of it was
when it began to be more widely known
and used as medicine, and was known
by the sad nisnomer of "dqua rite."
For the idea that il is beneficial to health
aud life has run down through the ages
to our day, and still deceives many, a
remnant of darkness and barbarity
which must eventually flee away before
he light of scientific truth.
About two hundred years ago the
spirit of wine received the name of al
c,.hol which, is an Arabic word and
clings to it because it was discovered
and first used by the Arabian alche-
nists. By this time the process BY
which 1t was made was well known and
employed in many countries, and
cheaper things than wine used, such as
grains and fruits. 1t is supposed that
tie Spaniards gained knowledge from
The Arabians as cal ly as A. ID. 1860,
and that it was then used TO drink I;
and that the monks whom the Roman
Catholics sent 10 Ireland from Spain,
carried the knowledge of it into that
country, where it was manufactured
from grain and received the name of
whisky. In Germany it was made
from the lees of wine and fruits and re-
aatuoA m N Dc
it received the name of gin, being fla
vored with juniper berries. When
| sugar predominated in its manufacture,
it was called rum from, saccharum the
Latin for sugar. Beer is water and al
cohol favored with hops. Every intox-
icating drink is largely composed of
water and alcohol with flavor pecul-
iarsto itself. Does not this show that
drinking the lighter beverages is Just
rs bad in kind as drinking ardent spir-
its? For 1t is alcohol and that only that
gives value to any of them. There is u
kind of Rhenish wine called hook that
contains but little alcohol. Ii is CHEAP
and undesirable, the drink of beginners
and those unable to buy better, that is.
stronger. Who ever heard OF physi-
elan ordering hook to "build IN" n
patient? Who ever heard of unpoetic
hook being offered to guests at state
| dinners?
Varieties are greatly multiplied.
There are fifty or sixty kinds of wine
besides the malt liquors and the fer.
'ncnted and distilled spirits, all highly
alcohrlizcd, deadly host; who Sin i,
cope with ii9 The different names 40
suit from the difference in flavor "a
waysof manufacture, rather than ~"
difference in alcoholic effect.
TO illustrate the power and prestige
conferred upon the old alchenIists b.
their knowledge of the properties OF
alcohol, let me relate The story of an
Asiatic prince whose cherished son suf
Tered the ampniation OF an arm. The
boy could not bear TO have the severed
limb buried and go to decay; so it was
Kept I'LL II became offensive. Then the
prince sent for the most famous NEGRO
lnancer, offering him rich reward ii
he would preserve the limb. He plung-
Ell 1t into jar of alcohol to ali
appearanoc-and chemical action was
suspended. This was an establishment
and delight. Years after, in the in
teresi of an enemy of the prince, the
necromancer set fire to the preserved
limb, telling the prince aud his assem-
BLEED court that If Il burned II would
show that himself, his people, and his
city, would soon meet like destruc-
ton. Ii 10 needless to saw that IL was
consumed and the Mortified prince
yielded to the demand of his enemy.
A