31 8 - METHOD OF DISTILLING 



deed, poifonous, fort of diem is daily fold at fo very 

 cheap a rate. 



All I need further add with refpeti to diftillation, 

 and on the fuperior advantages in the mode of conduc- 

 ing it here, to that we have been in ufe to employ, for 

 the raifing of fpirits, fimple waters, and the like, is only 

 to obferve, I have no fort of doubt, but that the intelli- 

 gent chemical operators at home, if ever they mould 

 get a hint of it, will make no manner of fcruple to ufe 

 it alfo, and to improve upon it greatly by a few inge- 

 nious contrivances, which their knowledge and expe- 

 rience will fo eafily fuggeft. The principles on which 

 it feems founded, indeed, efpecially with regard to their 

 way of cooling, are fo ftriking and juft, that in many 

 other diflillations befides thofe of fpirits and waters, 

 they may be employed, I apprehend, with very great 

 profit and advantage. I (hall now, however, confine 

 myfelf to mention only the benefit that may refultfrom 

 a like procefs in the raifing of the finer aromaticks, 

 while the heat contrived, as in our way, befides im- 

 peding the diflillation, rr.uft, from its long a£tion on 

 fuch fubtile bodies, probably injure them greatly in the 

 eflential quality on which their excellence depends : and 

 upon this very account I am apt to imagine, that the 

 greater quantity obtained, and the fuperior quality of 

 the oil of rofes made in this country, to that made from 

 rofes with us, is owing chiefly, if not entirely, to their 

 better and more judicious manner of extracting it here. 

 For with us, the ftill, being made of metal, may, in 

 the fir It inftance, impart too great and too fudden a 

 degree of heat ; and next, the oil continuing fo long in 

 the vapour, and that much comprefled, may, in fo de- 

 licate a fubjeel, not only entirely almoft unite it with 

 the water, fo as to render the feparation impracticable, 

 but may at the fame time alter its effence fo completely, 

 as that it can no longer appear in the (late it otherwife 

 might have been found in, had the operation been bet- 

 ter 



