1863 The manufacture of liquors, wines, and cordials

SWEET SPIRITS OF NITRE.

89

; this is one of the constituents of the various

ferable

The bitter principle is yielded to For particulars, see chapter on

brands of bitters.

water and alcohol.

the Manufacture of Bitters.

SWEET SPIRITS OF NITRE

Is distilled from nitric acid and proof spirit, and is used by some manufacturers for giving a false strength to liquors. The proportions vary, say from six to twelve ounces to forty gallons of spirit. The excessive use of the swe^t spirit of nitre in liquors, will cause an involuntary flow of urine from the con- sumer ; probably there are but few instances in which the use of nitre would be necessary in managing li- quor ; some manufacturers use it in liquors that have become musty, and others use it under the impression that it adds a peculiar vinosity to the spirit. These ends can be obtained by other articles that are more economical and less injurious to health j the articles in question consist of honey or sugar, acid tincture of the grains of paradise, starch,