146 Memorandums, H'mls, Precepts, and Recipes, 



the funnel will then be found to contain nothing but sether 

 mixed with the gold^ which is to be put into well-clofed 

 bottles, and preferved for ufe. In order to gild iron or Iteel, 

 the metal mud be firrt well pohflied with the fineft emery, or 

 rather with the fincfi; crocus martis or colcothar of vitriol and 

 common brandy. The auriferous aether is then to be applied 

 with a fmall bru(h ; the cether foon evaporates, and the gold 

 remains on the furface of the metal ; the metal may then be 

 put into the fire, and afterwards poliftcd. By means of this 

 auriferous aether all kinds of figures may be delineated on 

 iron by employing a pen or fine brufli. It is in this manner, 

 ve bclievej that the Sohlinger fabrc blades arc gilded. As 

 every artift has not an opportunity of procuring a recipe for 

 the preparation of the nltro-muriatic acid and aeiher, we fhall 

 here give procclfes for both. 



Preparation of the Nitro-muriatic Acid. 



In a fufficient quantity of nitrous acid diflblve as much 

 fal-ammoniac as it can take up in a cool place. Into this 

 nitro-muriatic acid put the gold, after it has been reduced to 

 fine powder by being filed or beat into thin leaves, and de- 

 pofil it in a warm place until it is diflTolved, This folution 

 has a golden-yellow colour, and gives a purple tint to animal 

 bodies. 



Preparation of the JEther. 



Put into a large retort one pound and a half of the ftrongeft 

 fpirit of wine, and pour gradually into it two pounds of the 

 ftrongeft fulphuric acid ; Ihaklng the retort a little each time 

 the acid is poured in. The liquid will become hot, and the 

 vapours, difcngaged with force, will difi'ufe a penetrating and 

 agreeable odour. When you have poured in all the fulphuric 

 acid, rinfe the neck of the retort by pouring in half a pound 

 more alcohol ; and having mixed the whole thoroughly, fuffcr 

 it to ftand for fome time well clofcd up. 



Then place the retort with the mixture in afand-bath,and 

 adapt to it a capacious receiver, and make a fire under the 

 retort. The heat however muft be flow, and fo moderate 

 that the receiver may never he heated by it. The diltillation 

 muft be fcontinued until a fulphurous odour, infteadofthe 

 agreeable one, is obferved at the mouth of the receiver. For 

 this purpofe the receiver may be now and then emptied, by 

 which means the odour can be at all times obferved. 



When the diltillation is ended you will have obtained an 

 sether; which however always contains partly a little acidu- 

 lous-water, and partly fome fpirit of wine. 



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