Notice from Dr. Robert Hare. 329 



diifers from that usually known as nitrous or nitric ether in being 

 sweeter to the taste, more bland to the smell, and more volatile. 

 It boils below 65° of P., and produces by its spontaneous evapora- 

 tion a temperature of - 15° F. On contact with the finger or 

 tongue it hisses as water does with red hot iron. After being made 

 to boil, if allowed to stand for some time at a temperature below its 

 boiling point, ebullition may be renewed in it apparently at a tem- 

 perature lower than that at which it had ceased. Possibly this ap- 

 parent ebullition arises from the partial resolution of the liquid into 

 an aeriform ethereal fluid, which escapes, both during the distilla- 

 tion of the liquid ether and after it has ceased, at a temperature be- 

 low freezing. This aeriform product has been found partially con- 

 densible by pressure, into a yellow liquid, the vapor of which, when 

 allowed to enter the mouth or nose, produced an impression like 

 that of the liquid ether. I conjecture that it consists of nitric ox- 

 ide, so united to a portion of the ether as to prevent the wonted 

 reaction of this gas with atmospheric oxygen. Hence it does not 

 produce red fumes on being mingled with air. 



Towards the end of the ordinary process for the evolution of 

 the- sweet spirits of nitre, a volatile acrid liquid is created which 

 affects the eyes and nose like mustard, or horse radish. 



When the new ether as it first condenses is distilled from quick- 

 lime, this earth becomes imbued with an essential oil which it 

 yields to hydric ether. This oil maybe afterwards isolated by 

 the spontaneous evaporation of its solvent. It has a mixed odor, 

 partly agreeable, partly unpleasant. From the affinity of its odor 

 and that of common nitrous ether, I infer that it is one of the 

 impurities which exist in that compound. 



The new ether is obtained in the highest degree of purity, 

 though in less quantity, by introducing the materials into a strong 

 well ground stoppered bottle, refrigerated by snow and salt. After 

 some time the ether will form a supernatant stratum, which may 

 be separated, by decomposition. Any acid, having a stronger af- 

 finity for the alkaline base than the hyponitrous acid, will answer 

 to generate this ether. Acetic acid not only extricates but ap- 

 pears to combine with it, forming apparently a hyponitro-acetic 

 ether. 



I observed some years ago that when defiant gas is inflamed 

 with an inadequate supply of oxygen, carbon is deposited, while 

 the resulting gas occupies double the space of the mixture before 



Vol. XXXV.— No. 2. 42 



