Am)l™J%rm' }  Spirit  of  Nitrous  Ether.  359 
First  heating : 
11.25  A.M.,  heat  applied  to  water-bath.  Temperature,    6z°  Fahr. 
1  j. 47     "  "  ioo°  " 
12.4  P.M.,  commenced  to  simmer.  "  I5°°  " 
12.6      "      reaction  energetic ;  turned  down  gas.  "  1600  " 
12.10    "  "  1680  " 
12.13    "       turned  gas  higher.  u  1680  " 
12.23     "  "  1700  " 
12.30    "  "  I75°  " 
12.40    "     turned  down  gas ;  distillation  drop  by  drop.  "  1800  " 
12.50    "     allowed  to  cool.  "  1780  " 
1.45    "     amount  of  distillate  10^  fl.  oz,  "  900  " 
Second  heating  (with  one  ounce  of  sulphuric  acid  added)  : 
2.18  P.M.,  applied  heat.  Temperature,    8o°  Fahr. 
3.7       "     no  reaction ;  distillation  drop  by  drop.  "  1800  " 
4.45     "     amount  of  distillate  1  fl.  oz.  "  900  " 
Third  heating  (with  reserved  portion  of  nitric  acid)  : 
4.47  P.M.,  applied  heat.  Temperature,    900  Fahr. 
4.55  "  commenced  to  react  briskly,  and  for 
the  first  time  some  vapors  passed 
through  absorbing  bottle. 
5  "      the  reaction  was  over.  "  1800  " 
6  "      total  distillate  13  fl.  oz. 
9.25    "      the  requisite  quantity  of  distillate,  15  fl.  oz.,  obtained. 
The  15  fluidounces  of  distillate,  when  diluted  to  the  proper  vol- 
ume with  stronger  alcohol,  corresponded  in  its  odor,  color  and  taste,  in 
its  relation  to  litmus,  to  bicarbonate  of  potassium,  and  to  heat,  in  its 
boiling  point,  and  in  its  freedom  from  aldehyd  (relation  to  solution  of 
potassa),  to  the  officinal  requirements,  but  its  sp.  gr.  ivas  only  0*825 
at  6o°F. 
If  we  now  review  the  foregoing  experiments  we  find  that  the  only 
deviations  from  the  officinal  directions  consisted  in  the  use  of  weaker 
acids  in  proportionately  larger  quantities,  and  in  the  substitution  of  thin 
sheet-copper  for  copper  wire.  By  the  use  of  weaker  acids,  it  is  true, 
a  portion  of  water  is  introduced,  but  this  can  have  no  influence  on  the 
reaction  if  we  accept  Prof.  Redwood's  experiments,  and  consequently 
the  process  of  the  Br.  Ph.  to  be  correct,  since,  in  the  latter  process,  the 
relation  of  water  to  monohvdrated  acids  and  absolute  alcohol  is  much 
greater  than  in  the  U.  S.  process  (see  table  D).  It  is  hardly  probable 
that  the  substitution  of  thin  sheet-copper  for  copper  wire  can  have  any 
