SELECTED ARTICLES. 27 
ART. VI.— ON NITRIC ETHER. By R. Hare, M. D., Professor of 
Chemistry in the University of Pennsylvania. 
This ether may be obtained in a diluted state, by distilling 
alcohol with diluted nitric acid, or with nitre and sulphuric 
acid. When sulphuric acid is used, the product is liable to 
consist in part of sulphuric ether. 
Thenard informs us that to obtain pure nitric ether, equal 
parts of alcohol, and of the nitric acid of commerce, may be 
mixed and distilled with great caution, the product being 
passed into a series of Woulfe's bottles, the first empty, the 
others half-filled with brine, and surrounded by a freezing 
mixture. As soon as the reaction commences, it increases 
rapidly, so that it is necessary to check it by cooling the re- 
tort. 
I subjoin an engraving and description of an apparatus 
which I have contrived for generating nitric ether. 
I am of opinion that it would be advantageous, if the pre- 
scriptions of our physicians were made with reference to in- 
gredients of a high degree of purity. The physician should 
know how much real nitric or sulphuric ether is contained in 
the diluted article which he directs his patient to use. Hence 
pure nitric or sulphuric ether should be prescribed, adding as 
much alcohol or water as he may deem necessary. Agreeably 
to the present practice, it is in the power of manufacturing 
chemists to impoverish ethereal preparations with little danger 
of detection. 
Pursuant to the London Pharmacopoeia, three ounces of 
nitric acid, by distillation with a quart of alcohol, are allowed 
to produce twenty-four fluid ounces of sweet spirit of nitre. 
According to Thenard, the quantity of ether, when the mate- 
rials are in the ratio of equality, amounts to two-thirds of the 
weight of the acid. Hence it is probable that the quantity of 
ether in the twenty-four fluid ounces of sweet spirit of nitre, 
obtained as above mentioned, is not more than two ounces. 
