Testing the Artificial Coloring in Wines.

Manufacturer and builder 5, 1877

An improvement in methods for testing wines to detect artificial coloring has been devised by M. Didelot. The suspected wine is poured into a test tube contianing a small ball of gun-cotton. The cotton is then washed carefully in several successive waters. If the wine be pure, the color will wash out of the cotton; if the tint remains, artificial coloring is probable. To test the remaining color, a few drops of strong liquor ammonia are let fall on the cotton. If the ammonia discharges the color, it has been made with fuchsine; if the cotton turns violet, orchil has been used; if greenish, aldeberry juice.