198 
PHAKMACEUTICAL  STILL. 
Philadelphia,  whose  excellent  apparatus  deserves  a  much  wider 
distribution  than  it  has  yet  obtained. 
The  below  described  still  is  intended  still  more  fully  to  meet 
the  wants  of  those  manufacturing  on  a  small  scale  for  their  own 
use,  and  permits  of  a  variety  of  applications  not  attainable  by 
other  modifications. 
It  consists  of  a  vessel  (a),  the  cucurbit,  or  boiler,  serving  as 
the  receptacle  of  the  liquid  to  be  distilled ;  on  top  this  carries 
a  groove  (w)  for  holding  a  small  quantity  of  water,  into  which 
the  prolonged  rim  (v)  of  the  capital  (b)  fits  loosely,  forming  a 
water-joint.*  Within  this  vessel  (a)  may  be  suspended  a  perfor- 
ated, shallow  pan  (d)  (the  diaphragm)  for  the  reception  of  herba- 
ceous or  other  substances,  through  which  the  vapor  generated 
in  (a)  is  to  be  passed,  as  is  required  in  the  manufacture  of 
essences,  spirits,  distilled  medicated  waters,  etc.  The  capital 
consists  of  a  pan  (b)  with  double  bottom  (k)  (e),  the  lower  one 
of  which  (e)  is  along  the  margin  perforated  by  a  row  of  holes, 
whose  object  is  to  spread  the  ascending  vapor,  so  as  to  pass 
close  to  the  sides  of  (k)  the  upper  one  of  the  double  bottoms, 
where  it  is  partially  refrigerated,  and  the  condensed  liquid  flows 
back  to  (a)  through  a  hole  in  the  centre  and  lower  portion  of  (e). 
From  (k)  the  exit  tube  passes  out  to  (m)  (n),  being  between 
those  points  enclosed  in  a  cylindrical  tube,  which  by  means  ,of 
the  funnel  tube  (f)  may  be  supplied  with  cold  water,  and  which 
by  the  tube  (1),  discharges  its  heated  water,  forming  in  that 
portion  of  the  apparatus  a  complete  Liebig's  condenser.  The 
funnel  tube  (f )  should  be  at  least  one  inch  higher  than  the  dis- 
charge tube  (1).  The  discharge  tube  (1)  is  moveable  in  its 
socket,  and  may  be  turned  round  so  as  to  supply  either  the 
basin  (b)  with  warm  water,  or  to  discharge  outside.  The  tube 
(g)  serves  for  pouring  liquid  into  (a)  without  removing  the  capi- 
tal, and  carries  a  hook  (h)  which  fastens  into  the  loop  (i),  thus 
giving,  together  with  the  brace  (o),  firmness  to  the  apparatus. 
The  flat  rim  (r)  is  intended  as  a  support  by  which  the  still  may 
be  suspended  in  a  water  bath,  for  which  purpose  a  cast-iron 
*  This  is  to  be  commonly  filled  with  water  ;  but  when  strong  alcohol  or 
ether  is  distilled,  it  should  be  filled  with  flour-paste,  and  may  be  wrapped 
with  a  narrow  strip  of  muslin  in  addition. — Note  hy  the  Author. 
