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368 Preparations and Compositions. Part III.

Distil off by a heat, gradually raised, two pints.The specific gravity of this liquor is 1095.

Liquor ammonia subcarbonatis. Lond.Liquor of Subcarbonate of Ammonia.Take of

Subcarbonate of ammonia, four ounces •,Distilled water, a pint.Dissolve the subcarbonate of ammonia in the water, andfilter through paper.

The nature of the last of these preparations is evident; andfrom its being more simple and uniform, and even economi-cal, it is preferable to the former, for which it is a substitute,as the product in that case is also a solution of carbonate ofammonia, while the residuum in the retort is an alkaline mu-riate. In this instance, the decomposition of the muriate ofammonia cannot be effected by carbonate of lime, because theaddition of the water prevents the application of the necessary-heat, whereas alkaline carbonates act at a moderate temper-ature.

Liquor volatilis cornu cervini. Dub.Volatile Liquor of Hartshorn.

Take of

Hartshorn, any quantity.

Put it into a retort, and distil, with ^gradually increased heat,the volatile liquor, salt, and oil. Then repeat the distilla-tion of the volatile liquor until it becomes as- limpid as wa-ter, separating by filtration the oil and salt after each dis-tillation. The liquor will be more easily purified, if, aftereach distillation, except the first, there be added about asixth pai-t of its weight o £ charcoal of wood previously heat-ed to redness, then extinguished, by covering it with sand,and powdered while it is hot.

If hartshorn cannot be had, the bones of any other land ani-mal may be substituted for them.

The wholesale dealers have very large pots for this distilla-tion, with earthen heads, almost like those of the commonstill - , for receivers they use a couple of oil jars, the mouths ofwhich are luted together; the pipe that comes from the headis connected by means of an adopter with the lower jar, whichis also furnished with a cock for drawing off the fluids con-densed in it. The upper jar is entire, and in it is condensedthe solid carbonate of ammonia. When a large quantity ofthe subject is to be distilled, it is customary to continue the

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