Let there be an empty vessel, and another containing wine: whatever quantity of water we pour into the empty vessel, the same quantity of wine and water mixed may be drawn off through a pipe in any proportion we please; such, for instance, that there may be two parts of water to one of wine.
Let A B (fig 24) be an empty vessel, either a cylinder or
a rectaugular parallelopiped: by the side of this, and on the same base,
place another vessel, C D, perfectly air-tight, and, like A B, either a
cylinder or a rectangular parallelopiped; but the base of A B must be
twice as great as that of C D, as the water is to be the double of the
wine. Near C D place another air-tight vessel, E F, into which the wine
is to be poured; and between the vessels C D, E F, let a tube run, G H
K, perforating and soldered into their coverings. In E F let there be a
bent siphon, L M N, the inner leg of which must reach almost to the
bottom of the vessel, leaving only a passage for the water, and the
other, being bent within the vessel, lead into the next vessel, 0 X.
From this vessel let the tube P R lead through all the vessels, or be
carried under the pedestal on which they stand, that it may readily pass
near the bottom of the vessel A B. Let another tube, T S, connect the
vessels A B, C D, and near the bottom of A B place a small pipe, U,
which with P R it must be included in a larger pipe, Q W, provided with
a cock by means of which it may be opened or shut at pleasure. When
these preparations have been made, close the pipe Q W, and pour water
into the vessel A B ; a part, viz. one half, will pass into C D, through
the tube S T, and the water which falls into C D will force out a mass
of air equal to itself through G H K into the vessel E F ; in like
manner this air will force an equal quantity of wine into the vessel 0 X
through L M N. Now, if we open the pipe Q W, the water poured into the
vessel A B and the wine carried out of 0 X through the tube P R will
flow through it together and thus what was proposed will be done. The
vessels will be empty again when, the mixed liquid having been all
discharged, the air enters them through the tube P R.