280 Sulphurous Ether and Sulphate of Ether ine. 



The heavy oil of wine treated by Hennel as sulphate of hydro- 

 carbon, 2S + 4CH; and by Serallasas a hydrous sulphate of etherine, 

 4CH+2S-1-H; I have obtained, as above mentioned, by exposing 

 the ethereal sulphurous sulphate of etherine, in vacuo, over the hy- 

 drate of lime, or potash, and sulphuric acid. This variety sinks in 

 water, being of the specific gravity of 1.09 nearly ; is of a deeper 

 hue than the other, and of a smell less active, with a taste somewhat 

 more rank. A specimen of oil thus obtained being subjected to the 

 distillatory process, a portion came over undecomposed, leaving in 

 the retort a carbonaceous mass. 14 grains of the oil which had not 

 undergone distillation, and a like portion of the distilled oil, were 

 severally boiled in glass tubes with nitric acid until red fumes ceased 

 to appear; about 28 grains of pure nitre were added to each, some 

 time before the boiling was discontinued. The resulting liquid was 

 in each case poured into a platina dish, boiled dry, and afterwards 

 deflagrated by a red heat. The residual mass being subjected to 

 water, the resulting solution was filtered, an excess of nitric acid 

 added, and then nitrate of barytes in excess. 



The precipitate obtained from the distilled oil, weighed when 

 dry, only nine and five-eighths grains, while that procured from the 

 oil which had not been distilled, amounted under like circumstances, 

 to fourteen and one-eighth grains. Ten grains of another portion, 

 left for some time over liquid ammonia, yielded only seven-eights 

 of a grain of sulphate. 



About a drachm of Hennel's oil of wine was subjected to distilla- 

 tion with strong liquid ammonia ; fourteen and a half grains came 

 over, retaining the appropriate fragrance and flavor. This yielded, 

 by the process above described, only two grains of sulphate of ba- 

 rytes. After all the water and ammonia had distilled, the receiver 

 was changed, and fourteen grains of oil, devoid of the fragrance and 

 flavor of the oil of wine, were obtained. This yielded one and 

 one-eighth grains of sulphate. A carbonaceous mass, replete with 

 sulphuric acid, remained in the retort. 



Hennel states that when oil of wine was heated in a solution of 

 potash, an oil was liberated which floated upon water, having but 

 little fluidity when cold ; and which in some cases, partially crystal- 

 lized. When gently heated, ii became clear, and of an amber color. 

 The vapor had an agreeable, pungent, aromatic smell. This oil 

 must have been pure etherine. 



It is not improbable that this oil, which may be considered as 

 devoid of sulphuric acid, is more or less liberated in evolving oil of 



