Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
July, 1877 
Spirit  of  Nitrous  Ether. 
357 
been  perceptible  in  the  room  during  the  previous  distillation,  probably 
owing  to  a  small  opening  which  had  been  purposely  left  in  the  receiver ; 
in  this  and  the  subsequent  distillation  the  receiver  was  provided  with  a 
small  glass  tube,  bent  twice  at  right  angles,  and  dipping  into  alcohol 
contained  in  a  vial  loosely  stopped  with  cotton  and  resting  on  a  support 
a  little  higher  than  the  column  of  alcohol.  The  arrangement  is  shown 
in  the  accompanying  cut. 
By  this  arrangement  the  loss  of  ether  was  completely  prevented, 
the  temperature  of  the  water  flowing  through  the  condenser  being 
580  F.,  while  the  temperature  of  the  room  did  not  exceed  650  F.  at 
any  time.  The  alcohol  was  of  the  proper  strength  (sp.  gr.  0*817) 
and  neutral  ;  the  nitric  acid 
had  the  sp.  gr.  1*365  (=63*5 
per  cent.  HONO-);  the 
sulphuric  acid  the  sp.  gr. 
1*830  (=93  per  cent.  HO 
S03) ;  the  copper  was  in 
thin  sheets,  and  cut  into 
small  pieces.  Proper  com- 
pensation having  been  made 
for  the  weaker  acids  used, 
the  process  was  conducted 
as  officinally  directed,  with 
this  exception,  that,  for  want 
of  time,  the  mixture  of  alco- 
hol and  sulphuric  acid  was 
allowed  to  stand  several  days 
before  commencing  the  dis- 
tillation. 
First  Heating .  Commenc- 
ed at  9.30  A.M.,  temp.  620 
F.  ;  commenced  to  simmer 
at  9.41  A.M.,  temp.  1430 
F.  ;  heat  removed  when  temp,  was  1520  F.  ;  rose  spontaneously  to 
1650  F.  ;  at  10  A.  M.  temp,  commenced  to  fall,  heat  again  applied; 
at  10.25  tne  temp,  was  1700  F.  ;  at  10.35  the  reaction  slackened, 
temp.  1760  F.,  heat  increased  ;  at  10.42  the  distillate  passed,  drop  by 
a.  The  receiver,  rather  tall,  which  is  con- 
nected, air  tight,  with  a  Liebig's  condenser. 
b.  The  absorbing  bottle,  containing  a  meas- 
ured quantity  of  stronger  alcohol. 
c.  The  support,  the  removal  of  which  pre- 
vents the  return  of  the  contents  of  the  ab- 
sorbing bottle  into  the  receiver,  in  case  of 
condensation  occurring  in  the  retort  by  cool- 
ing. 
a  is  closed  by  a  cork  stopper. 
b  is  closed  by  cotton. 
