34 ON THE PERCHLORATE OF THE OXIDE OF ETHULE. 
This water, therefore, should be removed by the cautious use 
of strips of blotting paper, moistened at the end, and intro- 
duced into the tube employed as a receiver. 
To avoid the danger attendant on the management of the 
ether in its pure state, it may be received in strong alcohol, 
since it is not explosive when dissolved in alcohol. If the ex- 
periment be performed with seventy grains of sulphate of 
barytes, from one to two drachms of absolute alcohol will be 
found sufficient for this purpose. By the addition of an equal 
volume of water, the ether may subsequently be separated from 
this solution, in small quantities, for the purpose of examina- 
tion. But, in this case a loss of ether is sustained, by the de- 
composing influence of the water employed. 
The perchlorate of ethule obtained in this way is a trans- 
parent, colorless liquid, possessing a peculiar, though agreeable 
smell, and a very sweet taste, which, on subsiding, leaves a 
biting impression on the tongue, resembling that of the oil of 
cinnamon. It is heavier than water, through which it rapidly 
sinks. It explodes by ignition, friction, or percussion, and 
sometimes without any assignable cause. Its explosive pro- 
perties may be shown with but little danger, by pouring a 
small portion of the alcoholic solution into a small porcelain 
capsule, and adding an equal volume of water. The ether will 
collect in a drop at the bottom, and may be subsequently sepa- 
rated by pouring off the greater part of the water, and throw- 
ing the rest on a moistened filter, supported by a wire. After 
the water has drained off, the drop of ether remaining at the 
bottom of the filter may be exploded either by approaching it 
to an ignited body, or by the blow of a hammer. We are in- 
duced to believe that, in explosive violence, it is not surpass- 
ed by any substance known in chemistry. By the explosion 
of the smallest drop, an open porcelain plate will be broken 
into fragments, and by that of a larger quantity, be reduced to 
powder. In consequence of the force with which it projects 
the- minute fragments of any containing vessel in which it ex- 
plodes, it is necessary that the operator should wear gloves, 
and a close mask, furnished with thick glass-plates at the aper- 
