Page:A Practical Treatise on Brewing (4th ed.).djvu/245

Rh artificial. My former remarks were principally conﬁned to the injurious effects of galvanism, as producing an electro-chemical action in the process of fermentation. These injurious effects I considered to have been caused by chains of pipes, consisting of various metals, having been connected with the fermenting tuns, and other departments of the brewery; and many facts and cases in point were mentioned, showing that this was the true cause. Many people, however, were led to suppose that, as this action was not so hurtful at some times as at others, its injurious effects had no foundation in reality; but every one, more or less acquainted with the principles of electrical science, must admit the fact, that different oxidizable metals in contact cannot be immersed even in water, without the excitation of galvanic currents. When, however, such combinations of metals are immersed in acidulated liquors, such as worts undergoing fermentation, currents, more or less powerful in proportion to the quantity of acid contained in those liquors, must be produced.

Acids increase the conducting power of liquors, and upon this property depend their effects of increasing the power of galvanic currents. From causes already stated and explained in my Treatise on Brewing, acids are sometimes formed in the worts, even in the coolers. Hence it may be easily comprehended that electro-chemical action must, in