1868 The complete Practical Distiller

TKiS COMPLETE PRACTICAL DISTILLER.

46

of perfovming this will not always depend upon the rela- tive size of the vessel, but must be governed by the quantity of vapour supplied in a given time, and the supply of cold water. The vessel that encloses the sub- stances to be distilled is called an alembic. It is very dangerous to use one that is not tinned, as the liquor would assume a deadly quality. An alembic is composed of two or three parts, according to which the distillation is carried on by fire or by the Balneum Marise in the first, the bottom of the alembic is in close contact with the fire; but in the latter, its lower part is placed in another vessel larger than itself, which, being filled with water, acts as a medium between that and the fire. The alembic, properly speaking, is composed of two parts, the cucurbit and the head; but though the form of the latter may vary according to the systems of operations adopted, its use is always the same, namely, to contain the matter intended for distillation. When the cucurbit is large and spacious, as it must be in great distilleries, then it is necessary to fix it in the masonry of the copper. In this case it is difficult to clear it of the phlegm, or the residue of the distillation, even with the aid of a siphon, according to the practice of the ancients. How- ever, this is now best remedied by a cock on one side of the vessel, near the bottom, that must be set running when the alembic is discharged, or when it is necessary to clean it. The size of the cucurbit varies \n different countries. Many distillers, to augment their products, or to ameliorate the quality of the liquor, add a cooler to the head of the still. However, the observations continu- ally made in large distilleries have sufficiently proved