248 DR ANDERSON ON THE PRODUCTS OF THE 
which, though convenient enough on the small scale, was too tedious for the 
large quantities on which I now operated. The preliminary process of rectifying 
the oil, which was quite beyond the resources of a laboratory, was effected at a 
manufactory. The whole oil was introduced at once into a cast-iron retort, fur- 
nished with a good condenser, kept cool by an abundant current of ice-cold water. 
A very gentle heat was applied, and the first twenty gallons which passed over 
were collected apart ; they consisted of about equal bulks of a highly volatile oil, 
and of water charged with sulphide of ammonium, hydrocyanate and carbonate 
of ammonia, and a small quantity of very volatile bases. The oil which distilled 
over after this fraction had been separated was collected in a succession of casks, 
which were numbered as they were filled. 
In the after treatment of the oil, a process was employed similar to that which 
I had formerly made use of, with this exception, that the watery fluid, which had 
formerly been rejected, was employed for obtaining any bases which might have 
been dissolved in it along with the ammonia. For this purpose it was separated 
from the oil, and dilute sulphuric acid gradually added, when carbonic, hydro- 
cyanic, and hydrosulphuric acids escaped with violent effervescence. When acid 
enough had been added to communicate a powerfully acid reaction to the fluid, 
it was put into a large copper boiler and boiled for some time, water being added 
at intervals, so as to keep up the bulk. After the ebullition had been sufficiently 
prolonged, the fluid was allowed to cool, and slaked lime added in excess. A 
copper head was then fitted to the boiler and luted down with clay, a condenser 
attached, and heat applied. The distillate was collected in a large glass receiver, 
which, in order to prevent the escape of ammonia and any very volatile products 
which might be carried along with it, was connected by a doubly-bent tube with 
a second receiver containing water, through which the gaseous products were 
allowed to stream. The fluid which distilled was coloured blue by the solution 
of small quantities of copper from the condenser ; it had a powerfully ammoniacal 
and putrid odour, and when treated with sticks of caustic potass, in the manner 
described in the first part of this paper, ammonia was rapidly evolved with 
effervescence, and a small quantity of very volatile and pungent bases collected 
on the surface of the potash. These bases were separated from the potash fluid, 
which was preserved along with the ammoniacal solution obtained by the absorp- 
tion of the gaseous products in the second receiver. 
The treatment of the oil was conducted in a manner very similar to that 
already described, and as I desired to have only the more volatile products, I em- 
ployed the first half of the oil only. It was agitated with dilute sulphuric acid 
in casks about half full, and after two or three days, during which the agitation was 
frequently repeated, more water was added, and the solution of the bases sepa- 
rated from the oil. To this fluid acid was added, so as to have a distinct excess; 
and it was then boiled for the separation of Runex’s pyrrol, to which reference 

