46 



CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



being distilled in a retort, yielded first an 

 empyreumatic liquor, but afterwards, when 

 the fire was increased, a black and stinking 

 oil came over, in form of thin lamina, spread- 

 ing itself over the surface of the liquor. 

 There remained at the bottom of the retort, 

 a black and burnt mass, resembling a coal, 

 which, being thrown on burning charcoal, 

 had very much the smell of the common 

 tobacco. 



In this first distillation, no volatile salt ap- 

 peared; but the empyreumatic liquor being 

 examined, was found very sharp and acrid 

 on the tongue, and of a sharp and pungent 

 smell. Spirit of vitriol being mixed with it, 

 it afforded no effervescence ; but on the mix- 

 ing it with spirit of hartshorn, spirit of urine, 

 or the like, a small ebullition was always pro- 

 duced, though it lasted but a few moments. 



This liquor, rectified by a second distilla- 

 tion, affords the volatile salt of balm, which is 

 a fine white and pellucid substance, adhering 

 to the neck of the glass in form of fine 

 white and striated crystal ; and a yellow 

 aethereal oil, of a very penetrating smell, 

 and sharp taste, becomes separated by the 

 same rectification. These are both found to 

 be very powerful medicines, the salt as a 



