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the same oil in solution. This in some respectagrees with the result of Dollfuss’s experimentsbefore mentioned ; e so that it seems still doubt-ful whether true muriatic ether is formed bythe mere transmission of oxymuriatic acidthrough alcohol.

Phosphoric Ether.

The following process is given by M.Boullay f for the preparation of phosphoricether, the existence of which had been doubtedby several chemists. To a tubulated retortplaced on a sand-bath was joined a tubulatedreceiver connected with a Woulfe’s bottle fullof lime water and with a pneumatic apparatus.Into the retort were put 500 grammes of purephosphoric acid, made by acidifying phos-phorus by nitric acid, vitrifying the acid, re-dissolving and evaporating it to the consistenceof honey. A glass vessel similar to the Acid-Jfo/der, open at both ends and terminating atone end in a long tube with a stop cock, wasfitted to the tubuiure of the retort, the length-ened tube dipping into the phosphoric acid.The receiver being kept cool by a mixture ofsalt and ice, the acid in the retort was heatedto about 24:5°. Fahr. Then 500 grammes ofalcohol were let down, drop by drop, into theheated phosphoric acid. A violent ebullitiontook place on the mixture, which turnedblack, and numerous streaks of condensedvapour immediately appeared on the neck ofthe retort. The fire was kept up till thecontents of the retort were dry.

There passed into the receiver,

1st. 120 grammes of weakly etherized al-cohol.

2d. 260 grammes of a clear, light liquid,smelling much more strongly etherized thanthe last.

3d. 60 grammes of water saturated withether, on which floated about four grammes ofa yellow empyreumatic liquid resembling oilof wine.

4th. Another liquid insupportably fetid, red-dening litmus and effervescing with carbonatof potash. When saturated with this alkali itafForded acetite of potash.

The lime water became turbid only at theend of the distillation.

The gas collected had a sweet penetratingsmell, burning with a white flame and deposit-ing a copious black soot.

The two first products of the distillationbeing mixed and rectified by gentle distillationfrom muriat of lime, gave 60 grammes of a* Chem. Diet, article Ether. 1 An. China .

very pure ether strongly resembling sulphuricether, in its partial solubility in water, rapid eva-poration in the air, burning with a white flameand smoke, and leaving no marks of aciditywhen kindled on the surface of water.

Alcohol and the Vegetable Acids.

Most of the vegetable acids dissolve in alco-hol, but the spirit is separable again by dis-tillation in an unaltered state from all but theacetic acid, and even this latter will not convertalcohol into ether without frequent cohobation,or the use of some of the dry acetites.

But if a small portion of any of the con-centrated mineral acids be added to the vege-table acid and alcohol before distillation, amost striking difference of result is observed.The alcohol is changed more or less compleatlyinto an ether or a substance resembling ether,consisting of an intimate combination of the, alcohol and acid, which hardly if at all shewsany acid properties before combustion, butgives a large quantity of acid afterwards. Thiscurious subject was first undertaken by Scheele ,who shewed by experiment the facility withwhich the addition of a little muriatic acidpromotes the separation of acetic ether fromacetic acid and alcohol, and observed a singularproduct obtained in this method from benzoicacid, muriatic acid and alcohol, but failed inprocuring any particular results from the tar-taric, citric, boracic and succinic acids. Thissubject has also been examined with some-minuteness by M. Thenard. s

Some of the experiments we shall mention.

Benzoic Acid, Alcohol and Muriatic Acid.

30 parts of benzoic acid, 60 of alcohol, anci15 of concentrated muriatic acid, were distilledtill two thirds of the ingredients had passedover. No gas but common air appeared, andscarcely a trace of muriatic ether. The firstdistilled product was only alcohol, but after-wards a peculiar matter came over dissolved inthe spirit but separable by water. The retorfc-also contained much of the same substance-which had congealed to the bottom. It wasseparated from all the other matters by washingwith hot water in which itself was hardlysoluble. This substance was yellowish, pun-gent, somewhat heavier than water, fusible atfrom 76°. to 86°. F. and volatile at about 176°.F. it was acid, oleaginous, nearly insoluble incold water, but considerably soluble in hotwater and in alcohol, from which last it wasprecipitable by water. When the excess, oftom, 62, p. 192. * Mem. Arcueil . tom. 2,