CHAP. XVI. The making of oyl of Vitriol.
TAke ten pounds of Vitriol, which being made into powder, put it into an earthen pot,* 1.1 and set it upon hot coals, until it be calcined, which is when as it become reddish; af∣ter some five or six hours, when as it shall be throughly cold, break the pot, and let the Vitriol be again made into powder, that so it may be calcined again, and you shall do thus so often and long until it shall be perfectly calcined, which is when as it shall be exactly red; then let it be made into powder, and put it into an earthen-Retort, like that wherein aqua fortis is usually drawn, adding for every pound of your calcined Vitriol of tile-shreds, or powdered-brick one quarter; then put the Retort furnished with its receiver into a Fornace of Reverberation, alwaies keeping a strong fire, and that for the space of 48. hours, more or less according to the manner and plenty of distilling liquor. You shall know the distillation is finished when as the Receiver shall begin to recover his native perspicuity, being not now filled with vaporous spirits, wherewith as long as the humor distills it is replenished and looks white.
- A. Shews the Fornace.
- B. The Retort.
- C. The Receiver.
- D. The vessel filled with cold water.
Now for the Receiver there are two things to be observed. The first is, that it be great and very capacious, that it may not be distended and broken by the abundant flowing of vapo∣rous spirits, as it doth oft-times happen; ano∣ther thing, is that you set it in a vessel filled with cold water, lest it should be broken by being over hot; you may easily perceive all this by the ensuing figure.