1 6  Distillatory  Apparatus.  {^'^I'S?^ 
water  on  account  of  evaporation,  and  a  sudden  tilt  or  shake  requires  a 
readjustment.  In  some  of  the  stills,  where  the  spirit  is  condensed  upon 
the  dome,  the  water  in  the  joint  gradually  evaporating,  is  replaced  by 
the  condensed  alcohol,  which  is  wasted  by  the  evaporation,  even  if  more 
serious  consequences  do  not  result,  /.  the  sudden  bursting  into  flame 
by  contact  with  the  fire  used  as  a  source  of  heat.  The  second  objection 
may  be  counterbalanced,  if  care  is  used  ;  but  it  sometimes  happens  that 
the  water-supply,  used  for  condensation,  suddenly  fails,  and  if  alcoholic 
vapor  issues  from  the  delivery-tube,  instead  of  condensed  spirit,  explo- 
sion will  likely  ensue  if  it  comes  in  contact  with  flame. 
As  expense  has  usually  to  be  considered  in  the  construction  of  ap- 
paratus for  pharmaceutical  use,  especially  if  intended  for  occasional 
employment,  the  effort  was  made  to  keep  the  cost  down  to  the  lowest 
point  consistent  with  utility  and  convenience  of  application. 
It  is  presumed  that  most  pharmacists  use  a  low  stove,  such  as  here 
figured,  or  a  gas  stove,  or  have  access  to  a  kitchen  range  or  furnace. 
The  still  proper,  A,  thirteen  inches  in  diameter,  may  be  constructed  of 
copper,  and  if  a  copper  can,  in  which  oils  of  lemon,  bergamot,  orange, 
etc.,  etc.,  are  imported,  can  be  procured,  a  new  bottom  may  be  brazed  into 
it  by  a  coppersmith,  and  the  whole  tinned  inside  ;  the  top  is  cut  off, 
and  two  flat  brass  rings,  B  and  C,  one  and  a  half  inches  wide  and  half 
inch  thick,  are  obtained  and  soldered  or  riveted  to  the  top  and  body  of 
the  can,  as  shown  in  the  cut ;  two  half  inch  short  copper  tubes  D  and 
E  are  fastened  to  the  body  of  the  still,  communicating  with  the  inside 
for  use  as  a  water  level  ;  a  glass  tube  bent  at  right  angles  at  top  and 
bottom  is  fastened  by  two  short  pieces  of  rubber  tube  to  the  copper  tubes 
for  this  purpose  ;  when  the  water  bath  is  used  (hereafter  described)  the 
upper  end  of  glass  tube  is  drawn  out  of  the  rubber  tube,  in  order  to 
afford  egress  for  the  steam  through  the  upper  tube  D.  A  three  quarter 
inch  copper  tube  is  let  into  the  top  to  supply  the  liquid  to  be  distilled, 
of  course  furnished  with  a  cork,  when  the  still  is  used.  A  water  bath 
of  tinned  copper  or  tinned  iron  of  the  shape  shown  in  F,  with  a  flat 
rim,  which  accurately  fits  the  brass  flat  ring,  should  be  provided. 
A  four  inch  opening  is  made  in  the  copper  top  G,  to  which  is  fitted 
the  elbow  H  ;  this  elbow  is  best  made  of  tinned  copper,  but  this  may 
be  replaced  by  a  tinned  iron,  "  lobster  back,"  gutter-pipe  elbow,  if 
first  cost  must  be  curtailed.  There  is  an  advantage  in  widening  this 
tube  :  first,  in  affording  more  space  for  the  accommodation  of  vapor 
