ON SPIRIT OF NITROUS ETHER AND NITRITE OF SODA. 
7 
Name. 
Barrow, James . 
Blackett, John Henry- 
Cross, William Gowen 
Hearne, Frederick . 
Jones, Elias Richard 
REGISTERED APPRENTICES. 
Residing with Address. 
....Mr. Wilshaw .Wordsley. 
.Mr. Morton.Durham. 
.Mr. Cross.Shrewsbury. 
..Mr. Stevens.Strood. 
.Mr. Brearey .Douglas, I. M. 
Lambert, William R.Messrs. Parsons, Richardson and Co....Leicester. 
Oldham, Thomas.Mr. Sandiland .Bicester. 
Parkin, Charles .Mr. Hodgson .Stockton-on-Tees. 
Sandiland, Robert Burgess.Mr. Jones .Kingston-on-Thames. 
Shillito, William John .Mr. Dyer.Halifax. 
Stevens, Alfred Felix.Mr. Stevens.Strood. 
Timons, James Lewis.Mr. White .Bedford. 
Wavell, Edward.Mr. Littlefield .Yentnor, I. W. 
Westacott, William. 
ORIGINAL AND EXTRACTED ARTICLES. 
ON SPIRIT OF NITROUS ETHER AND NITRITE OF SODA. 
BY ROBERT WARINGTON, F.R.S., F.C.S. 
The spirit of nitrous ether, as a pharmaceutic compound, dates back to a very 
early period. In the thirteenth century, in the writings of Raymond Lully, its 
preparation is mentioned, and two hundred years afterwards an improved process 
for making it is given by Basil Valentine. A very good idea of the nature of 
these old processes, and of the curious state of chemistry a century and a half 
since, may be obtained by perusing the ‘ Dispensatory’ of Dr. Bates on this sub¬ 
ject; the second edition of which work, published in the year 1700, by Dr. Sal¬ 
mon, imparts such a graphic idea of the state of the manufacturing processes of 
pharmaceutic chemistry at that period, and the curious theories and quaint ex ¬ 
planations of chemical action then current, that I feel I need hardly apologize 
for giving the account in detail. Dr. Bates, it appears from the preface, “ was 
Physician to two Kings and a Protector” (Cromwell, Charles II., and James 
II.). In order clearly to understand the operation of making the sweet or 
dulcified spirit of nitre, it will be better that we should commence with the 
process for the spirit of nitre (nitric acid) employed. Some of the clauses 
which do not refer to the chemical part of the subject have been omitted. At 
p. 53, we have “ Spiritus nitri, spirit of nitre. Bates). Sand p. ij, nitre p. j. 
Mix and distil bya retort till the fumes cease to appear. Salmon). § 1. Here is 
but p. ij of sand to p. j of nitre, which I judge too little; the Colledge in their 
Dispensatory allows 5 to 1, as you may see iu our Pharm. Lond. lib. 3, cap. 10, 
sect. 47. But three to one is by experience found to be the best proportion. 
§ 2. £ Pure nitre lb. ij; common bole, or potter’s earth, lb. vj. Mix, and put 
them into a large earthen or glass retort luted, set it in a close reverberatory 
furnace fitting to it a large receiver ; give a gentle fire for four or five hours, 
till all the flegm is come forth, which will be drop by drop. § 3. Vv^hen it will 
drop no more, cast away the flegm in the receiver, and refit it, luting the junc¬ 
ture, increase the fire gradatim to the second degree, so will the spirit come 
forth, filling the receiver with white clouds, continue the fire in that equality 
for two hours, and then increase it to the greatest violence, and the vapours 
will be red, which continue till all is come over, which will be in about fourteen 
or fifteen hours. § 5. This spirit is the best aqua fortis that can be made. 
§ 9. You must not fill the retort above two-thirds full, and the recipient must 
