468
To make Leu Pun Chau, a mixture of rice and water is placed in an iron pan heated direct by means of a wood fire. After boiling, the softened rice is put into pots, into which the fermenting substance--Chau Pang-is placed.
Chau Pang is a substance composed of rice, bean flour, red earth, and leaves which are stated to be cassia leaves.
After fermenting the liquid is distilled from a pot-still,
Sheung Ching Chau and Sam Ching Chau are varieties of Leu Pun Chau and contain more alcohol. A number of wines are prepared from Leu Pun Chau, some for use as beverages and others for medicinal purposes.
Visits were paid to all the Chinese distilleries to observe the processes employed and the materials used. A full report upon this subject is recorded in the evidence of the Alcoholic Liquors Commission and in the Pharmaceutical Journal, October 29, 1898.
The amount of sainsbu distilled in Hongkong in 1897 was 1,979,831 catties (1 catty 1 English pound Avoir.)..
COMPOSITION OF SAMSHU.
The following table shows the nature of samshu. The ethers and higher alcohols were determined by the method as used by BELL in his investigations for the Select Committee on British and Foreign Spirits, 1891, as described in Appendix No. 4 of their report :-
Description.
Strength of Sample.
Total Solids dried at 100°
In 100 finid parts of proof strength.
C. in 100 fluid parts.
Free acid as
acetic.
Compound ethers as acetic ether.
Higher Alcohols.
Leu Pun Chau, 1
Do.,
2
Sheung Ching Chau, 1
Do.,
2
Sam Ching Chan, 1
Do.,
2
58.7 u.p.
0.015
0.279
0,230
0.032
50.9 u.p.
0.006
0.127
0.305
0.034
53.5 u.p.
0.035
0,217
0.231
0.062
42.4 u.p.
0.008
0.123
0.321
0.035
15.0 u.p.
0.012
0.078
0.242
0.034
22.6 u.p.
0.018
0.073
0.205
0,068
All the samples contain a faint trace of furfuraldehyde.
The amount of compound ethers is noteworthy, but it is not a surprising amount considering the nature of the materials used for the production of samshu.
12. Library. The following works of reference were added during the past year :--
M
Dana's Mineralogy.
Ure's Dictionary, 3 vols.
Muspratt's Chemistry, 2 vols.
Gold, Lock.
Precious Stones and Metals, King.
Micrographic Dictionary, Griffith and Henfry.
Cooley's Encyclopædia, 2 vols.
Pharmacographia, Flückiger and Hanbury.
Sugar Growing and Refining by Lock, Wigner, and Harland.
Phillip's Geology,
National Dispensatory.
Year-book of Pharmacy, 22 vols. and Index.
Taylor's Medical Jurisprudence.
Trials for Murder by Poisoning, Browne and Stewart.
Bentley's Botany.
Carpenter, Microscope.
Chemistry of Foods, Bell, 2 vols.
Water Analysis, Wauklyn.
Plant Analysis, Dragendorff.
Oils and Varnishes, Cameron.
Analyst, 1 vols.
Chemical News, 19 vols.
Poisons, Taylor.
Pharmaceutical Journal, 20 vols.
Medical Reports, Chinese Customs.