Temperance prize essays / By Drs. Mussey and Lindsly.

Date:
1835
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Temperance prize essays / By Drs. Mussey and Lindsly. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    102/210 (page 96)
    ME Le VOR cS AER ANAT AD VCMT Te ET Oe RET a 96 ORIGIN OF ARDENT SPIRITS. water of life,’ he remarks, ‘on account of its odors, savors, and qualities.’ It seems singular that the discovery of alcohol should be attributed to Arnold as has frequently been done,* since we cannot doubt that, if this had been the case, frequent reference would have been made to so interesting and important a fact in his writings, and in those of his disciple Raymond Lully. ‘The absence of all such reference there- fore seems conclusive proof that the discovery was not made by him, but must be ascribed to an earlier period. From. a consideration therefore of the whole ground, we are led irresistibly to the conclusion that the discovery of alcohol must have taken place between the age of Avicenna (A. D. 980), who does not mention it, and that of Thaddeus the Florentine (A. D. 1190), who does speak of it ; and as it seems pretty well known in Arnold’s time, it was no doubt brought into use sometime previous, probably as earlyt as 1050, or 1100 | * Hall’s distiller, &c. &e. es am aware that this is 150 or 200 years anterior to the time at which this discovery is commonly supposed to have occurred; but I think any one who will candidly examine the point for himself will arrive at the above