226 ESSAY XX. 



such an ether ; it requires only the addition of a little 

 mineral acid before the distillation. Add, for instance, 

 (a) to 1 oz. of concentrated vinegar (which may be 

 obtained from verdigris, crystals of verdigris, saccharum 

 saturni, or acetated vegetable alkali, by means of vitriolic 

 acid), 2 oz. of spirit of wine, and 2 drms. of common 

 muriatic acid. Distil this mixture till all the spirit has 

 been driven over, and then, upon distilling it off' a second 

 time to one-half into a receiver, which should contain a 

 little water, acetous ether will be obtained. If, instead 

 of the muriatic acid, vitriolic, nitrous, or fluor acid be 

 employed, the same ether will be produced. This ether 

 is obtained in a larger quantity than any other, and may 

 be prepared in several different ways, (b) If 1 oz. of alkali 

 saturated with vinegar be dissolved in 3 oz. of spirit of 

 wine, and then as much of any of the above-mentioned 

 four mineral acids be added as is requisite not only to 

 decompose the acetated alkali, but that there shall like- 

 wise be some superfluous mineral acid, and the mass be 

 then distilled, the same ether will be obtained. (c) If 

 acetated lead be triturated with a sufficient quantity of 

 muriatic acid, then mixed with spirit of wine and distilled ; 



(d) if crystals of verdigris be dissolved in a sufficient 

 quantity of muriatic acid and distilled with spirit of wine ; 



(e) if one part of concentrated vitriolic acid be mixed with 

 three parts of spirit of wine, one part of common salt, and 

 one-half part of powdered verdigris, and distilled, an ether 

 of the same kind is likewise obtained. In the same manner, 

 if (/) one part of vitriolic acid be mixed with four parts of 

 concentrated vinegar and four parts of spirit of wine, then 

 put aside in a well-corked phial for a few days, if to this 

 mass some water be added, the same sort of ether will be 

 separated. All the ether obtained floats upon the water, 



