ON SULPHUROUS ETHER. 
149 
cording to Hennel, the oil of wine consists of an atom of sul- 
phuric acid, and an atom of hydrocarbon: S + 4C4-4H. By 
the last mentioned appellation, this skilful chemist designates 
a compound consisting of four atoms of carbon, and four of 
hydrogen. 
Serullas represents the oil in question as consisting of two 
atoms of the acid, two of hydrocarbon or etherine, and one of 
water. 
To the hydrocarbon of Hennel (4CH,) as the common base 
of all the ethers, excepting those lately alleged to have my- 
theline for a base, the name of etherine has been given; so 
that the heavy oil of wine may be called the sulphate of ether- 
ine: or, according to the formula of Serullas, 2SE+H, it is a 
hydrous sulphate of etherine. It is, in fact, the only com- 
pound to which the name of sulphuric ether can be applied 
with propriety. The yellow liquid from which it is procured, 
as above stated, may be designated as the ethereal sulphurous 
sulphate of etherine. 
Another oil, lighter than water, resulting from the distilla- 
tion of the ethereal sulphurous sulphate of etherine, from 
hydrate of lime, or from potash, is described by Berzelius as 
oil of wine exempt from sulphuric acid. Of this the odour is 
represented as disagreeable; and, though nothing is said of 
its taste, it is to be presumed that it differs from the heavy oil 
of wine in this respect, as well as in its odour and specific 
gravity. 
Thenard alleges, that when the heavy oil of wine is heated 
with water for some time, a liquid swims on the water, which, 
if refrigerated by ice, will, within twenty -four hours, deposit 
crystals. The mother liquid he calls light oil of wine, while to 
the crystals he gives the name of concrete oil of wine. Hennel 
mentions his having obtained a similar product by the reaction 
of oil of wine with water, or an aqueous solution of potash; 
and treats the crystalline matter as the base of the heavy oil 
of wine, deprived of its acid; or, in other words, as his "hy- 
drocarbon;" or, as above mentioned, etherine. 
Considering how much has been written on this topic, I 
