Sulphurous jEther^ and Sulphate of JEtherine, 479 



phate of aetherine, 4CH + 2S + H; I have obtained, as above 

 mentioned, by exposing the aethereal sulphurous sulphate of 

 aetherine, in vacuo, over the hydrate of lime, or potash, and 

 sulphuric acid. This variety sinks in water, being of the 

 specific gravity of r09 nearly ; is of a deeper hue than the 

 other, and of a smell less active, with a taste somewhat more 

 rank. A specimen of oil thus obtained being subjected to the 

 distillatory process, a portion came over undecomposed, lea- 

 ving in the retort a carbonaceous mass. 14 grains of the oil 

 which had not undergone distillation, and a like portion of 

 the distilled oil, were severally boiled in glass tubes with nitric 

 acid until red fumes ceased to appear ; about 28 grains of 

 pure nitre were added to each, some time before the boiling 

 was discontinued. The resulting liquid was in each case poured 

 into a platina dish, boiled dry, and afterwards deflagrated by 

 a red heat. The residual mass being subjected to water, the 

 resulting solution was filtered, an excess of nitric acid added, 

 and then nitrate of barytes in excess. 



The precipitate obtained from the distilled oil, weighed, 

 when dry, only nine and five-eighths grains, while that pro- 

 cured from the oil which had not been distilled, amounted, 

 under like circumstances, to fourteen and one-eighth grains. 

 Ten grains of another portion, left for some time over liquid 

 ammonia, yielded only seven-eighths of a grain of sulphate. 



About a drachm of Hennel's oil of wine was subjected to 

 distillation with strong li(|uid ammonia; fourteen and a half 

 grains came over, retaining the appropriate fragrance and 

 flavour. This yielded, by the process above described, only 

 two grains of sulphate of barytes. After all the water and am- 

 monia had distilled, the receiver was changed, and fourteen 

 grains of oil, devoid of the fragrance and flavour of the oil of 

 wine, were obtained. This yielded one and one-eighth grains 

 of sulphate. A carbonaceous mass, replete with sulphuric 

 acid, remained in the retort. 



Hennel states, that when oil of wine was heated in a solu- 

 tion of potash, an oil was liberated which floated upon water, 

 having but little fluidity when cold ; and which, in some cases, 

 partially crystallized. When gently heated, it became clear, 

 and of an amber colour. The vapour had an agreeable, 

 pungent, aromatic smell. This oil must have been pure 

 aetherine. 



It is not improbable, that this oil, which may be considered 

 as devoid of sulphuric acid, is more or less liberated in evol- 

 ving oil of wine, according to the nature of the process em- 

 ployed ; and that the oil alluded to by Thenard, and those 

 procured by me by simple distillation, ebullition, or distilla- 



