Hitherto I have only given a simple Account of what daily happens to Distillers; but the Consequences of these Accidents are infinitely more terrible than the Accidents themselves; for an Artist to lose his Time, his Labour and Goods, is no small Matter; but it follows from what we have premised, that both his Life and Fortune are in danger from these Conflagrations. Instances of the former are too common, as well as those of the latter, relating to the Danger to which the Operator is exposed. They are evident, and we have seen very lately three Instances sufficient to intimidate the most sanguine. The Spirits catch, the Alembic and Recipient fly, and the inflamed Vapour becomes present Death to all who breathe it.
The Rectifiers, who perform the most dangerous Operations of Distillery, are particularly exposed to these terrible Accidents; the Fineness of the Spirit at the same time that it renders it more inflammable, also causes the Fire to spread with the greater Rapidity. And when their Store-houses are once on Fire, they are seldom or never saved.
Possibly I may be censured for my Conciseness on this Head; indeed the Importance of it requires the most particular Discussion; but intending to speak of the Methods proper to prevent these Accidents, I shall close this Chapter, with recommending the Subject of it to the serious Reflection of all concerned in Distillation. And it being hitherto omitted, though of all others it requires the Attention of the Distiller, I shall further observe, that these Operations should never be left to Servants. What can be expected from ignorant Persons? Fear will seize them, when the greatest Presence of Mind is requisite.————Let us now proceed to the Methods of preventing, or at least lessening their Effects.
CHAP. VII.
Of the Methods of preventing Accidents.
To have informed the Reader of the Accidents which happen in Distilling, would have been of little Consequence, without shewing, at the same Time, the Methods of preventing them. In order therefore to fortify him against the Terror, which the foregoing Chapter may have excited, we will here point out the Remedies for all the Cases before specified.
To prevent Accidents, two Things especially must be known, and adverted to.
1. The Knowledge of the Fire, which depends on the Fuel, whether Wood or Coal.
2. The Manner of luting so as to prevent the Vapours from escaping through it, and by that Means of setting the whole on fire.
The hardest Wood generally makes the quickest Fire, such as Beech, Oak, Holm, Elm, &c. The white Woods, as the Ash, the Poplar, the Willow, and the Birch, make a milder Fire. This holds good also of the Coal made of these two kinds of Wood; and, consequently, the Nature of the Wood or Coals must determine the Fire, and the Action of this must be proportioned to the Effect intended to be produced by it. That is, the Capacity of the Alembic, the Matters to be distilled, and their Quantity. The same may also be said of Pit Coal, which is generally used in England.
It is evident, that the larger the Alembic, the more Fire is necessary. What has not been digested, also, requires more Fire than that which has been prepared by that Operation. Spices require a stronger Fire than Flowers; a Distillation of Simple Waters more than that of spirituous Liquors.