between the old word
fermentation, and the new word attenuation, every thing used as a
ferment, or to promote fermentation, is attenuant. The tendency of the
vinous process of fermentation is to evolve or disentangle the hydrogen
of the fermenting fluid, and unite it, with the carbon and oxygen of
the same fluid, into ardent spirit, wine, beer, or alcohol, which last
is well known to be inflammable. The tendency of the acetous process of
fermentation, is to involve or entangle the hydrogen and carbon of the
fermented fluid, with a greater proportion of oxygen, into vinegar,
which is uninflammable. The fixed air, or carbonic acid gas, so
abundantly extricated during the vinous process of fermentation, which
every one concerned in the process is presumed to be acquainted with,
is either composed of hydrogen and oxygen, or is a composition of
carbon and oxygen, on which philosophers are divided in opinion. As the
result is the same with respect to the formation of wine, beer, and
spirit, I shall enter into no controversial reasoning on this head,
instead of which, I shall endeavour to point out the most effectual
mode of saving and profitably applying it, and the other elements, in
the composition of wine, beer, spirit, and acid.

As in fermentation, spontaneous or excited, there is a sensible escape
of carbonic acid gas, or fixed air, it may not be improper to note,
that fermentable, or saccharine matter, consists of about twenty-eight
pounds of carbon, eight pounds of hydrogen, and sixty-four pounds of
oxygen, reducible into fixed, inflammable, and vital air, weighing one
hundred subtile pounds in toto, or that every one hundred subtile
pounds of saccharine matter consists of such proportions of these airs
and gasses.

Attenuation is the result of a due resolution of the fermentable matter
produced by excited fermentation, which divides mucilages, resolves
viscidities, breaks down cohesions, generates heat and motion,
extricates the imprisoned gasses, and, by frequent commixture, promotes
the action and re-action of the component particles on each other, and
by continually exposing a fresh surface and opposition of matter,
brings them within the sphere of each other's attraction.

As their original attraction is weakened by heat and motion, their
expansion is increased by repulsion; and as they revolve, and recede
from each other in this way, they are fitted, by the change in their
modification, to involve each other,