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280 Sulphurous Ether and Sulphate of Etherine. 
The heavy oil of wine treated by Hennel as sulphate of hydro- 
carbon, 25-+-4CH;; and by Serullas as a hydrous sulphate of etherine, 
4CH+2S-++H; I have obtained, as above mentioned, by exposing 
the ethereal sulphurous sulphate of etherine, in vacuo, over the hy- 
drate of lime, or potash, and sulphuric acid. This variety sinks in 
water, being of the specific gravity of 1.09 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, leaving 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 procured 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-eights 
of a grain of sulphate. 
About a drachm of Hennel’s oil of wine was subjected to distilla- 
tion with strong liquid ammonia; fourteen and a half grains came 
over, retaining the appropriate fragrance and flavor. This yielded, 
by the process above described, only two grains of sulphate of ba- 
rytes. After all the water and ammonia had distilled, the receiver 
was changed, and fourteen grains of oil, devoid of the fragrance and 
flavor 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 solution of 
potash, an oil was liberated which floated upon water, having but 
little fluidity when cold; and which in some cases, partially crystal- 
lized. When gently heated; it became clear, and of an amber color. 
The vapor had an agreeable, pungent, aromatic smell. This oil 
must have been pure etherine. 
It isnot improbable that this oil, which may be considered as 
devoid of sulphuric acid, is more or less liberated in evolving oil of 
