VOL. XLI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 539 



The 2d day, when the glass is cold, infuse the remainder, with half as much 

 alcohol ;* and distil again as before, and you will have the same. The 3d day 

 again, with as much, and proceed as at first, it gives it again. Go on as long 

 as you can obtain any of the aethereal spirit, till all turns to a carbo. Then se- 

 parate it, and alcalize it with spirits of salt ammoniac made without spirits of 

 wine, till all effervescence ceases ; and distil it once more e balneo iiiariae. So 

 is it ready for experiments. -|- 



There are more products to be got from this process ; as, 1st. a balsamic oil. 

 2dly, a terra foliata tartari of a glittering nature, not fusible, as is the com- 

 mon, prepared with wine-vinegar, and fixed salt, which is of great use in me- 

 dicine. And, Sdly, a purple earth out of the caput mortuum. 



The Doctor proposed at some subsequent meeting, to exhibit 4 other simple 



that which sinks to the bottom, like gas sulphuris, a sulphureous acid. Separate the one liquor from 

 the other, by the separating funnel (pertritoreum). — Orig. 



* I suppose he means, pour in half as much fresh alcohol, as you did at first, that is 2lb. weight, 

 to the liquor remaining in the retort. — Orig. 



+ The above-mentioned liquors are to be purified from the strong-smelling sulphur, and superflu- 

 ous acid, which is performed in the following manner : Pour the liquor, which swam at top, into 

 a phial ; drop into it, drop by drop successively, a sufficient quantity of spirit of sal ammoniac, pre- 

 pared either from salt ammoniac with quick-lime, or from salt ammoniac, and salt of tartar, with 

 conomon water, and not with spirit of wine : every operator knows the quantity ; viz. continue dropping 

 in of such spirit upon the liquor of the phlogiston, till all effervescence ceases, and all the acid taste, 

 with the sulphureous smell, vanishes, being precipitated by the volatile alcali to the bottom. 



3dly, Let the whole liquor be rectified in a fresh retort by a most gentle heat of a balneum mariae, 

 or of a sand bath as hot as that of a person in a fever ; and then keep it for chemical uses. 



4tlily, The inferior liquor is to be purified as well as that which swam on the top; but it must be 

 done by oil of tartar per deliquium, till all ebullition entirely ceases. By evaporating all tlie humidity 

 of tliis liquor, you will have a peculiar tena foliata tartari, which, being reduced into a calx, shines 

 in the crucible like oriental pearls, or a peacock's tail. This earth has nothing of a pungent taste, 

 and is to be esteemed as a sheet-anchor in the most ardent fevers. 



This earth is of diverse colours, but it is not the common vulgar terra foliata tartari ; for it does 

 not flow in the fire, nor has the same taste as the common. The common is made by pouring dis- 

 tilled vinegar on fixed salt of tartar, till an entire saturation is made. The uses of this were formerly 

 known, and I know not by what fate (says the doctor) it is coming into use again now. I thought 

 proper to mention the difference of these preparations, because I am able, from innumerable experi- 

 ments, to demonstrate a real diversity in them. I shall seem to have dwelt loo long on one thing, 

 but I hope I shall be the less blamed, since I design to show, that there are several ethereal liquors 

 besides this above described ; for there are not only such (<I>a<ivis-ik«,) or combustible fluids, but there 

 are likewise saline fluids, and also some quite insipid, being a mixture of combustibles differently gra- 

 duated, and extracted by no other heat unless their internal fire. In a word, as many spheres as 

 there are of the elements, so many ethereal, or (if you rather chuse to call them so) aerial liquids, 

 viz. the aether of the earth, of the water, of the air, and of the fire : which, with the leave of the 

 Royal Society, I intend shortly to lay before them. — Orig. 



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