192 APPARATUS FOR DISTILLATION. 



VII. 



Description of a simple Apparatus for Distillation. By a Cor» 

 respondent 



To Mr. Nicholson. 



SIR, 



THE number of ingenious and beautiful apnratuses for dis- 

 tillation, and the experiments of pneumatic chemistry, 

 give a splendour to the exhibitions of lectures, r.nd are highly 

 gratifying to the affluent cultivators of science. But the 

 greater part of operative chemists every day feel the expence 

 •which, from its own brittle nature, and the heavy duties 

 imposed upon it, attends the use of glass. To them the 

 simplicity and cheapness of a set of vessels stand among its 

 most desirable properties. I send you a sketch of a combi- 

 nation which has not, I believe, the recommendation of novelty, 

 but' which, fram repeated and habitual use, I have found of 

 such value as leads me to believe you will be disposed to bring 

 it into more public notice. It consists simply of A, a retort 

 fitted into B at the neck E, which may be considered as the 

 only indispensable ground joint. Into the other neck of B the 

 vessel C is fitted like the upper vessel of Nooth's apparatus, hav- 

 ing its neck D closed by a conical stopper, or, if preferred, a tube 

 of safety may be placed ther&, In the operation, the distilled 

 matter, or gas, passes over, and is received, condensed, or ab- 

 sorbed, in B. If the pressure be considerable, part of the 

 liquid in B will rise into C, the included air of which last vessel 

 may raise the stopper D, and partly escape. 



If there be reason, from the nature of the subject, to ap- 

 prehend, that part of the contents of the retort may boil over ; 

 or if the first products of distillation be required not to pass 

 ?nto B, the common adopter may be used, as shown by the 

 dotted lines F. G. H. I. 



I am, 



Sir, 

 Your Constant Reader, 



A. 



VIII. 



