DIS 
DI V 
Tile laws of distillation, however, are so 
modified by other circumstances, as to 
render some of the preceding rules in some 
measure exceptionable. If the dilferent 
bodies subjected to distillation had no che- 
mical affinity for each other, it is probable 
that each substance would put on its elas- 
tic form, only at that temperature at which 
it would, in a separate state, be converted 
into vapour. But we frequently find, that 
one volatile substance will carry along 
with it other bodies of considerable fixity. 
From the affinity which water has to air, 
w'e observe the evaporation of the former 
to take place at all temperatures below its 
boiling point; and though it has been 
thought that water might be freed from 
saline matter by distillation, it is found by 
experiment, that several salts are carried 
over along with the vapour of the water, 
which in their dry state woiild undergo 
decomposition before they would be in- 
duced to assume the elastic form. Heuce 
water, by the common mode of distilla- 
tion, cannot be rendered pure. From the 
circumstance, that the air is capable of 
raising water and other liquids at a low 
temperature, we are enabled to perform 
the distillation of such liquids, by making 
the slightest degree of difference of tem- 
perature between the retort and the re- 
ceiver. Water and alcohol may be ob- 
tained perfectly pure, by placing the retort 
in the temperature of 100“, and the re- 
ceiver in that of 50° of Farenheit scale. 
The salts most liable to rise with water, in 
distillation, are carbonate ammonia, muriates 
of lime and magnesia, and nitrate of soda. 
Indeed this tendency appears to be di- 
rectly, as the solubility of the salt, or rather 
as its deliquiescent property, which is as 
its affinity for water. 
DISTRESS, in law, is the taking of a 
personal chattel, out of the possession of 
the wrong doer, into the custody of the 
jrerson who is injured, to procure a satisfac- 
tion for the wrong committed. It is of two 
kinds ; cattle for trespassing and doing da- 
mage, or for non-payment of rent or other 
duties. But the most usual injury for 
which a distress may be taken, is that of 
non-payment of rent. ^ 
DISTRIBUTION of intestate’s effects, 
after payment of the debts of the deceased, 
is to be made according to the manner fol- 
lowing : one third shall go to the widow of 
the intestate, and the residue in equal pro- 
pottions to his children ; or if dead to their 
representatives, that is, their lineal descen- 
dants ; if there be no children, or legal 
representatives, then a moiety shall go to 
the widow, and a moiety to the next kin- 
dred in equal degree, or their representa- 
tives ; if no widow, the whole shall go to 
the children ; if neither widow nor child, 
the whole shall be distributed amongst tlie 
next kindred in equal degree, and their 
representatives : but no representatives are 
admitted among collaterals, farther than the 
children of the intestate’s brothers and sis- 
ters. ' The father succeeds to the whole per- 
sonal effects of his children if they die in- 
testate and without issue ; but if the father 
be dead, and the mother survive, she shall 
only come in for a share equally with each 
of the remaining children. 
DITTO, usually written D°, in books of 
accounts, an Italian word, signifying the 
aforementioned. 
DIVAN, a council chamber, or court of 
justice, among the eastern nations, particu- 
larly the Turks. 
DIVER. See Colymbus. 
DIVERGENT rays, in optics, are those 
which going from a point of the visible ob- 
ject, are dispersed, and continually depart 
one from another, in proportion as they are 
removed from the object : in which sense it 
is opposed to convergent. Concave glasses 
render the rays divergent, and convex ones ’ 
convergent. Concave mirrors make the 
rays converge, and convex ones make them 
diverge. 
DIVERSION, in military affairs, is when 
an enemy is attacked in one place where 
they are weak and unprovided, in order to 
draw off their forces from another place 
where they have made, or intend to make, 
an eruption. Thus the Romans had no 
other way in their power of driving Hanni- 
bal out of Italy but by making a diversitn 
in attacking Carthage. 
DIVIDEND. See Arithmetic. 
Dividend, in commerce, the proportion 
of profits which the members of a society, 
or public company, receive at stated 
periods, according to the share they pos- 
sess in the capital or common stock of the 
concern. 
The term is likewise generally applied to 
the annual interest paid by goverment on 
the various public debts, although this is 
either a terminable or perpetual annuity, 
and in no respect a division of profits. In 
thW sense, the order by which stockholders 
receive their interest is called a dividend 
warrant, and the portions of interest un- 
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