Page:A Practical Treatise on Brewing (4th ed.).djvu/249

Rh seldom thunder-storms to dread) than in warmer weather or summer. Galvanism, however, now neutralizes these advantages, and the process of brewing has become about as uncertain during winter as in the heat of summer, thereby causing the great want of success and uniformity already mentioned.

Let us now revert to the fluctuations which take place in the fermenting tuns, when the appearance of the atmosphere indicates thunder.

It is generally supposed, that before thunder the atmosphere is positively, and the earth negatively, electrified; but suppose it the reverse, the same anomalies would take place in fermentation, and similar effects be produced,—viz., that positive electricity would cause fermentation to go on too rapidly, while negative electricity would altogether prevent it: thus showing, that, whenever the equilibrium is unduly disturbed during that process, fermentation becomes irregular, and of course uncertain.

When fermentation is going on as regularly and prosperously as possible, should the process suddenly cease or become inactive, it indicates an approaching thunder-storm, and during this inactivity no addition of yeast will have any effect in causing it to go on. It may be remarked, however, that no additional acidity takes place, nor does any other harm happen to the worts during this cessation than merely the delay. Very soon