FUR′NISHING. It is essential for the sake of neatness, and for a pleasing effect to the eye, that there should be a harmony of colours, and also a similarity of style, in the main articles of furniture. The tints of the carpet, of the paper or paint of the walls, and of the window-curtains, should be all in harmony in each room; that is, either possess a general resemblance of colour, or various colours in pleasing contrast and harmony with each other. If the preponderating colour of the curtains is scarlet, and the colour of the walls or carpet blue, a most inharmonious and unpleasing effect is produced; but brown and green, or green and gold, will be in harmony, and may, therefore, be placed together. Carpets being the most expensive articles, it is safest to buy them first, and then to let their colour guide us in the tone and style of the curtains, paper-hangings, chair-covers, hearth-rugs, and the various minor articles. It is also economical to buy carpets of the same pattern for several rooms, because in the event of removal to a house with different sized apartments, a piece of one carpet may be taken to alter the size of another.
FUR′NITURE. See French Polishing, Oil, Polish, Varnish, &c.
FURS. Of these the most valuable are Ermine and Sable. Fur skins, when unprepared, or merely dried, go under the name of ‘Peltry.’ (Brande.)
Furs may be preserved from moths and other insects by placing a little colocynth pulp (bitter apple), or spice (cloves, pimento, &c.), wrapped in muslin, among them; or they may be washed in a very weak solution of corrosive sublimate in warm water (10 to 15 gr. to the pint), and afterwards carefully dried. As well as every other species of clothing, they should be kept in a clean, dry place, from which they should be taken out occasionally, well beaten, and exposed to the air, and re-turned.
FU′SEL-OIL. Syn. Fousel oil, Potato-oil, Oil of potato spirit, Grain oil, Grain-spirit oil, Marc-brandy oil, Crude hydrated oxide of amyl. Source. An offensive, strong-smelling oil, produced along with alcohol during the fermentation of grain, potatoes, &c., on the large scale, and which gives the peculiar and disagreeable flavour and odour to raw whiskey. It is found chiefly in the last portion of the spirit which passes over, called the ‘faints,’ to which it imparts its characteristic odour and flavour. By rectifying the faints at a very gentle heat, most of the alcohol and water first pass over together with only a little fusel oil, whilst the latter forms the residuum in the still. Various names (as above) are given to the crude oil thus obtained, according to its source. In each case it essentially consists of hydrated oxide of amyl, but trifling and variable quantities of other organic compounds are mixed with it, which slightly modify its character, more particularly its odour and flavour. The oil of potato spirit is the purest form of crude fusel oil.
Obs. The exertions of the distiller are directed, as much as possible, to lessen the formation of fusel oil during the fermentation of his ‘worts,’ and to eliminate, during the distillation and rectification of his liquors, the greatest possible proportion of that with which they may be contaminated.
Prop., &c. Fusel oil is a nearly colourless
volatile liquid, with a rather high boiling point, a durable, penetrating, offensive smell, and an acrid, burning taste; when swallowed, it occasions nausea, giddiness, headache, &c.; in slightly larger quantities, vomiting, delirium, oppressive respiration, and lessened sensibility to pain; its vapour also produces these effects. In quantity, it is a narcotic poison. The greater intoxicating power of whiskey, more especially that from raw grain, than other spirit, is due to the larger quantity of fusel oil which it contains. This appears to be well known to the lower class of whiskey drinkers in these countries, and to the consumers of corn brandy in some of the northern parts of Europe. The last are said to frequently demand to be served with “a glass of good fusel.” In England fusel oil is chiefly used for lamps and varnishes.
Purific. The AMYLIC ALCOHOL (ALCOHOL AMYLICUM) of the Dublin College is thus prepared. Introduce the ordinary fusel oil of the distilleries into a small still or retort, connected with a condenser, and apply heat; as soon as the oil begins to flow over, unmixed with water, the receiver should be changed, and the distillation resumed, and carried nearly to dryness; the product in the second receiver, and the oily matter which separates from the water in the first receiver, are to be reserved for use. It is employed in the preparation of VALERIANATE OF SODA. See Amyl.
FU′SIBLE ALLOY′. Syn. Fusible metal. Prep. 1. Bismuth, 2 parts; lead, 5 parts; tin, 3 parts. Melts in boiling water.