Solution of the secret of alcoholic fermentation

[M.D. Holloway]

SOLUTION OF THE SECRET OF ALCOHOLIC FERMENTATION

"Beer yeast, when dispersed in water, breaks down into
an infinite number of small spheres. If these spheres are
transferred to an aqueous solution of sugar they develop into small
animals. They
are endowed with a sort of suction trunk with which they gulp up the
sugar from the solution. Digestion is immediately and clearly
recognizable because of the discharge if excrements. These animals
evacuate
ethyl alcohol from their bowels and carbon dioxide from their urinary
organs. Thus one can observe how a specifically lighter fluid is exuded
from the anus and rises vertically whereas a stream of carbon dioxide is
ejected at very short intervals from their enormously large genitals."

by Fredrich Woehier and Justus Von Liebig
Published in the annals of Chemistry Volume 29, 1839

I just thought it was funny...yes I am 12!

[slakjaw]

Omg lol

[red-beard]

I think they needed to get out more...

[M.D. Holloway]

I think he knows a little sump'n about pee, he was the first to synthesize urea!

[M.D. Holloway]

Actually, they wrote this as a joke back in the day - I guess some pre-prohibitionists got hand of it and actually used it as a reason not to embide. Both these guys were serious chain smokers as well. Excellent chemists both.

[RWebb]

infinite number? I guess infinity was smaller in 1839.

[gtc]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

Actually, they wrote this as a joke back in the day - I guess some pre-prohibitionists got hand of it and actually used it as a reason not to embide. Both these guys were serious chain smakers as well. Excellent chemists both.

What's a chain smaker? Sounds like the predecessor to the cratch slapper.

[M.D. Holloway]

Chain smoker...I like yours!