224 ESSAY XX. 



then proceeded as in (d). The ether thus obtained was 

 perfectly like the preceding. I several times poured spirit 

 of wine as well upon this residuum as upon the residuum of 

 bismuth, and constantly obtained some ether upon a new 

 distillation. In this distillation no aurial acid is generated. 



SECTION IV. 



In order to determine with certainty, whether the 

 muriatic acid is to be looked upon as a constituent part 

 of this ether, it was first necessary to free it from the 

 superfluous muriatic acid as well as possible; and with 

 this view I proceeded with this ether as I had done before 

 with the vitriolic (Sec. II.). The ether, thus purified from 

 muriatic acid, was mixed with a solution of silver; but 

 observing no precipitation to take place, I poured the whole 

 mass into a glass vessel, and set it on fire after the ether 

 was consumed ; I found the solution of silver turbid, and 

 as it were coagulated by the muriated silver; consequently 

 my conjecture that the muriatic acid was a constituent part 

 of this ether was well founded. 



SECTION V. 



The action of nitrous acid upon spirit of wine is well 

 known ; on which account I shall take no further notice 

 of it ; but the action of the fluor acid upon spirit of wine 

 I was curious to learn. (a) For this purpose I mixed 

 powdered fluor with an equal quantity of vitriolic acid in 

 a retort, to which I luted a receiver, containing 3 oz. of 

 spirit of wine, and placed the retort in warm sand. The 

 day following I poured the spirit, which now smoked, into 

 another retort, and distilled it in the common manner. 



