The curious distillatory, or, The art of distilling coloured liquors, spirits, oyls, &c. from vegitables, animals, minerals and metals ... containing many experiments ... relating to the production of colours, consistence and heat ... : together with several experiments upon the blood (and its serum) of diseased persons, with divers other collateral experiments / written originally in Latin by Jo. Sigis. Elsholt ; put into English by T.S. ...

CHAP. X.

Of the Dregs of Wine, of wild Carna∣tions, or Pinks, and Parsley.

OLd Wine deposits two sorts of Ex∣crements; to wit Dregs, and Tartar. The Dregs are the grosser, and earthly parts of the Wine which after fermentati∣on it lets fall (like Slime and Mudd) to the Bottom of the Vessel, it not being void of a useful saltness, from whence the Wine gains strength: So that taken from this root as it were, and put into another Vessel, it will not endure any long time, but will easily degenerate.

Concerning the usefulness of these Fae∣ces, or Dregs, we have a testimony in Brandy, or Spirit of Wine, which the Vint∣ners, and Distillers make from them: That we may omit other uses now, which are not unknown to the common people.

But this we suppose is hardly taken no∣tice of by every body, that an Oyl is to be prepared from these Faeces or Dregs which ascends the Alimbeck of a Green Colour. In

this Operation 'tis to be observed, that that Oyl is most green which distilleth last, but this Greenness doth vanish with length of time: Nay presently, if you rectify the Oyl, it being changed into a Yellowishness. Let the distilling vessels be well covered with Tin, lest you suppose the Tincture doth arise from the erotion of the Copper in its passage. Many affirm that from the pressings, or husks of Grapes, an Oyl may be likewise made, after the same manner, which will ascend Green. Wild Pinks, or Carnations whilest they are in Flower, and running up to Seed, if the whole Plant be fresh gathered, cut small, and distilled af∣ter the usual manner, there commonly swims on the top of the Water drawn by the Alimbeck, a Greenish Oyl.

You will find the same thing to be true, with the Garden Smallage, or Parsley di∣stilled after the same manner, if you have wrought aright: but this Greenness is but temporary, and of small duration. But the Oyls of Chervil, and Parsley which are to be seen in the Shops, are wont to be prepared by long fermentation, and are of a deep Gold Colour, which they constantly retain.