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192
THE
COMPLETE
PRACTICAL
DISTILLER.
boil
till
16
ounces
are
distilled,
when
the
retort
is
to
be
removed.
To
the
distilled
liquor
add
2
drachms
of
the
stronger
common
caustic,
and
distil
again,
from
a
very
high
retort,
with
a
very
gentle
fire,
the
recipient
being
placed,
as
be-
fore,
in
a
refrigeratory.
Continue
the
distillation
till
10
ounces
are
drawn
off.
To
the
acid
residuum,
after
the
distillation,
if
you
pour
16
ounces
of
rectified
spirit
of
wine,
and
repeat
the
distil-
lation,
more
etherial
liquor
may
be
obtained,
and
this
process
may
be
repeated
several
times.
The
preparation
of
this
singular
fluid
has
long
been
confined
to
a
few
hands;
for,
though
several
processes
have
been
published
for
obtaining
it,
the
success
of
most
of
them
is
precarious,
and
some
of
them
are
accompanied
with
danger
to
the
operator.
Where
the
dulcified
spirit
only
is
the
object,
the
me-
thod
as
before
directed
for
it
succeeds
to
perfection;
but
when
it is
made
with
a
view
to
the
other,
a
variation
is
necessary,
for
only
a
small
quantity
of
ether
can
be
separated
from
the
spirit
so
prepared.
There,
the
distil-
lation
is
performed
with
an
equable
and
gentle
heat;
here,
the
fire
should
be
hastily
raised,
so as
to
make
the
liquor
boil,
for
on
this
circumstance
the
produce
of
ether
principally
depends.
Ether
is
the
lightest,
most
volatile,
and
inflammable
of
all
known
liquids.
It
is
lighter
than
the
most
highly
rectified
spirit
of
wine,
in
proportion
of
about
7
to
8.
A
drop
let
fall
on
the
hand
evaporates
almost
in
an
instant,
scarcely
render-
ing
the
part
moist.
It
does
not
mix
but
in
small
quantity
with
water,
spi-