1892 The flowing bowl when and what to drink (1892, c1891)

COMPOSITION OF DRINKS, ETC.

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pulses that, because being life-preserving, are physi- ologically of the greatest importance. How we ought to drink, and what, has already been treated upon; it is only left to show what we must not drink. This task will be solved as soon as we have demonstrated what beverages are composed of, and how they are eventually adulterated. Although such a treatise ought to be of a strictly chemical character, it will still be interesting, both to the public in general and to manufacturers especially. Therefore we add here, in short but distinct outlines, a description of the composition of fluids, their chemical characteristics when pure, and their possible adultera- tions. IT contains, in 100 parts, 88. 8 parts of oxygen and ii.i parts of hydrogen. We know it in three different ag- gregates as vapor, as fluid, and as ice. Being one of the chief means for dissolving the most heterogeneous solid substances, and being capable of mixing itself with most of the liquids, it is never found in nature per- fectly pure; nor is this at all desirable, as chemically pure water would taste vapid. Natural water, e. g., rain-water, contains ingredients that were taken from the atmosphere as nitrogen, carbonic acid gas, dust, salts, germs of organisms, am- monia, nitric and nitrous acids, peroxide of hydrogen. tOater.