Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/188

162&#93; 162] SU G STARDT, whose mrmoir is also translated in Mr. Nicholson's Journal, vol.iii. for06tober, 1799- With a view to diminish tl'C use of sugar, or at least to afKsrd a sub- stitute for that article, M. M, Margkaaff and Lov/itz recom- mended two differeut processes for purifying honey, so as to answer the comrnon purposes of a sweet- ener ; but their fxi>edien{s being too exj^nsive, F.therGio vane Batis- ta DA St. Marine, an ingenious Venetian Monk, has proposed the following method : To three parts (by weight) of htoney, eight of wa- ter must be added ; together with one part of charcoal, broken to pieces, but not reduced to poit-der. This mixture shouki boil for one hour, w hen it ought to be fi Fired } and, after being thus purified, it is to be evapornled oven a slow fire, till it a<<iuire the consistence of a thick synip, which will be as pa. latable as sugar. This process is cheap, and easy ; but we question the advantage of converting honey into a saccharine substance j as the former maj', in this country at least, be purchased at a lower price. Sugar affords one of the most useful spices ; and is at present classed among the principal neces- saries of life. If moderately taken, it operates as a gentle solvent, and promotes digestion ', hut, wlien its use exceeds the bounds of modera- tion, especially in pastry or con- fectionary, it itiatrs the stomach ; palls the appetite ; and eventually injures the teeth. Person«, there- fore, whose, digestive organs are impaired ; whose constitutions are debilitated ; or w ho are subje^ to hypocholidriae or hysteric afTrc- tionn; ought sparingly to partake of this sweetening salt. On the otiierband, sugar is au excellent SUG antiseptic, and antiscorbutic : in- deed, Dr. Ru^n maintains, that it is preferable to most kinds of ali- ment, being compressible into a small compass ; and its nutritious properties are not liable to be af- fefted, unless by keeping it in a moist place. He farther observes, that it is an excellent antidote against worms, and probably also against roaHguanl fcvers ; for these have not of I'tirred so frequently, since sugar has formed a general article of diet. Lastly, in a candied state, it is of sen'ice in disorders of the chest, occasioned by the varia- tions of the weather; as it consti- tutes the basis of many palatable remedies. By the 12 Car. II. c. 18, and 2/ Geo. III. c.27, a!l sugars must be imported either in British ves- sels, or in such as belong to the suljjeds of that Kuropcan country, of which the goods are the pro- duce; but, in both rases, they must be legally navigated, on pain of forfeiture. — Sugar is subject to the following charges, namely : if it be refined, to the sum of 51. Os. 4<1. per cwt. ; brown, and muscovado sugars j)ay, if from British pianta- tit)ns, 18s. 2d, ; if from other coun- tries, ll. lys. 4d. per cwt. But, in alL*^nses, it is prohibited to be imported from Germany and the Netherlands, SuGAK-fANDY, is the csscHtial part of the saccharine matter form- ed into large crystals, by slowly evnjwrating the clarified syrup. Ihe whole process is managed in strongly-heated cli ambers, by tlic aid of vessels containuig numerous threads that intersect each other j and which are fastened to tiie sides, in various dire^ions. The sugar, thus treated, shoots into crystals around the threads j and, accord-