On the chemical and microscopical analysis of an unsound wine / by Jas. R. Napier, F.R.S., and Professor J.G. M'Kendrick, M.D.
- Napier, James R. (James Robert), 1812-1879.
- Date:
- [1878]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: On the chemical and microscopical analysis of an unsound wine / by Jas. R. Napier, F.R.S., and Professor J.G. M'Kendrick, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
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![Alcantara Wine. Specific gravity at 17°. 7 C. 0-9996 Alcohol per cent, by weight, 15-0 > . 32-5] > [Equal to “ proof spirit,” .... Total acids, reckoned as tartaric, per cent. . 0-67 Sulphuric acid (So4) per cent •06 ) [Equivalent to Plaster of Paris, . *08 ( or Tartaric acid lost, .... •09] ) The acidity is much above the average, as far as I can find, for Sicilian wines: probably but little of it is owing, in fact, to tartaric acid, but to acetic acid. There is a considerable amount of acetic ether present, and the wine has in general a harsh, acetic character. Although not a heavily plastered wine, the Alcantara contains an amount of plaster of Paris in solution that is not natural, but the effect of an addition during manufacture. In this respect it resembles most sherries. It also contains at least 3 per cent, of added spirits (absolute alcohol). The wine has the general character of an inferior sherry, not “ natural” either in respect of its plaster or added spirit. It would probably yield unpleasant results in bottling. EDWARD J. MILLS. Report on a Sample of Wine received from Mr. Jas. R. Napier, July 11, 1877, by Dr August Dupre, F.R.S. The wine was contained in an ordinary wine bottle, corked but not sealed. The bottle had two labels, one with “Alcantara,” the other with “ From Jas. R. Napier, 22 Blythswood Square, Glasgow. August Dupre Esq., Westminster Hospital,” written on. On analysis the wine yielded the following result:— Specific gravity of wine, .... 999-3 Alcoholic strength in per cent, proof spirit, . 33 3 per cent. Total free acid, calculated as tartaric acid, 0-57 55 Free fixed acid calculated as tartaric acid, 0T9 55 Free volatile acid calculated as acetic acid 0-30 >5 Real tartaric acid ..... 0 00 55 Total dry residue, ..... 5-02 55 Consisting of S mineral mattors (ash)> ' ' 0*55 I , ( organic matters, . 4-47 i ” The ash contained alkaline carbonates, . 0T9 55 The rest consisting chiefly of sulphate, phosphate, and chloride of potassium, calcium, and sodium.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24935013_0004.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
