Sulphurous Ether and Sulphate of Etherine. 279 
sides the ethereal sulphurous sulphate of etherine usually resulting 
from the process, and condensing in the first receiver, it was found 
that in the other retorts severally, there were liquids of various de- 
grees of volatility. That in the last boiled at 28°, but the boiling 
points rose gradually as the quantity of the residual liquid diminished. 
In order to ascertain the nature of the sulph-acids abstracted 
from the ethereal sulphurous sulphate of etherine by the ammonia 
employed, chloride of barium was added in excess to the resulting 
ammoniacal solution, until no further precipitate would ensue, The 
liquid having been rendered quite clear by filtration, soon became 
milky. By evaporation to dryness, and exposure to a red heat, a 
residuum was obtained which proved partially insoluble in chloro- 
hydric acid, and by ignition with charcoal, yielded sulphide of bari- 
um. It appears, therefore, that a hyposulphate of barytes existed 
in the liquid after it was filtered; as I believe that the hy posulphuric 
acid is the only oxacid of sulphur which is capable of forming with 
barytes a soluble compound, susceptible, by access of oxygen, of 
being converted into an insoluble sulphate, and precipitating in con- 
sequence. 
It must be evident from the facts which I have narrated, that the 
yellow liquid obtained by distilling equal measures of sulphuric acid 
and alcohol, consists of oil of wine held in solution by sulphurous 
ether, composed of nearly equal volumes or weights of its ingredi- 
ents ; also, that the affinity between the ether and the acid is analo- 
gous to that which exists between alcohol and water. ‘The apparent 
detection of sulphuric acid in the ammonia, justifies a surmise, that 
the etherine distils in the state of a hyposulphate, which subsequent- 
ly undergoes a decomposition into sulphurous acid and arpa of 
etherine. 
The liquid above alluded to, as resulting from the saturation of 
the ethereal sulphurous sulphate of etherine by ammonia, and distil- 
lation by means of a water bath gradually raised to a boiling beat, is 
a very fragrant variety of oil of wine. It differs from that deseribed 
by Berzelius as the heavy oil of wine of Hennel and Serullas, in 
being lighter and containing less sulphuric acid. I have a specimen 
exactly of the specific gravity of water, and have had one so light 
as to float on that. liquid. The oil of wine obtained by ammonia 
approximates, in its qualities, to the variety which Thénard de- 
scribes as light oil of wine. The presence of sulphuric acid ina 
definite or invariable ratio does not appear requisite to the distinct- 
ive flavor or odor of oil of wine. 
