458 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



employed in this country as antesthctics, but as Dr. Simpson, of Edinburgh, 

 substituted chloroform for ctlier in 1847, the English and Scotch lay claim 

 to the discovery. But Samuel Guthrie, of Sackett's Harbor, in this State, 

 discovered chloroform in 1831. Professor Ives, of New Haven, first admin- 

 istered it by inhalation in January, 1832, as a curative agent. 



It is a compound of carbon, hj'drogen and chlorine, in the proportion 

 C2, II CI3. Guthrie obtained it by distilling a miKturc of alcohol and chlo- 

 ride of lime, and subsequently rectifying the product. 



Ether. 



The Chairman said ether is now usually made by mixing together equal 

 weights of alcohol of sp. gr. 830 and concentrated sulphuric acid. On sub- 

 jecting it to distillation in a large retort and a suitable condenser, the 

 ether passes over mixed with water and a small portion of alcohol. By 

 keeping the retort filled to the proper level by pouring in alcohol, the pro- 

 cess may go on until thirty times the quantity of alcohol originally mixed 

 has been converted into ether. The fact of using sulphuric acid in this 

 process has given rise to the misnomer, sulphuric ether. It is more pro- 

 perly called ethylic ether, because it is a formed on the water tj'pe by sub- 

 stituting two atoms of ethyl for two of hj-drogen — water and ether being 



represented thus : tt ( O2 : /-1'* rr"' [ 0? 



As a small quantity of sulphuric acid is sufficient to convert a very large 

 quantity of alcohol into ether, many explanations have been offered as to 

 the cause of this change. Liebig divides the conversion into two stages, 

 by the first sulphcthylic acid is formed ; by the second, this sulphethylic 

 acid, when brought in combination with more alcohol, is converted into 

 sulphuric acid and ether. The last reaction returns the original sulphuric 

 acid to the mixture, when it is prepared to undergo the first change. The 

 theory of Liebig is now generally received by chemists ; although Berzelius 

 and others, finding the sulphethylic acid formed and decomposed under the 

 same conditions, prefer to explain the change by the action of what is 

 called the catalytic force of sulphuric acid, thus keeping us reall}' still in 

 the dark, as no one can yet throw light upon the nature of this contact- 

 action 



Tlie combinations of ether and etln'l with many chemical elements and 

 compounds are too extensive to be embraced within the limits allotted to 

 this discussion. Many interesting experiments have recently been made 

 with ethyl in combination with a metal which are worthy of the study of 

 those who aim to keep pace with the great chemical advances made in our 

 own da3^ On motion adjourned. 



American Institute Polytechnic Association, ) 

 January 5th, 18G4. ) 



Prof. S. D. Tillman, presiding; Mr. B. Garve}', Secretary. 



Frosting Glass. 



Mr. Maddock presented a specimen of glass covered with an artificial 

 frost work, produced by the use of Epsom salts and sugar. 



