7. The Charge being worked off, be cautious in luting the Receiver, that nothing be spilt on the Furnace, and carry it to some Distance from it, that the Spirits exhaling may not take fire.
8. Lastly observe, that wherever a Remedy is required, there must be no Candle used; for the spirituous Vapours easily take fire, and propagate the Flame to the Vessels from whence they issue.
All that has been hitherto said concerns only the Management of the Alembic; but what remains is still more interesting, and relates to those who work it, that they may not, by conquering the Accident, destroy themselves.
On discovering any of the above Accidents, when the Flame has not yet reached the Spirits, let the Remedies already mentioned be applied, either with regard to the Lute, or the Violence of the Fire.
But if the Flame has reached the Alembic, the following Precautions are to be used.
The Operator must not approach the Alembic without a wet Cloth over his Mouth and Nostrils, it being immediate Death to inhale the inflamed Vapour.
In hastening to stop any Accident, be careful to approach the Side opposite to that whither the Air impels the Flame; for, without this Precaution you would be involved in it, and could not, without the utmost Difficulty, extricate yourself from it.
If notwithstanding this Precaution, the Eddy of the Air should force the Flame to your Side, quit the Place immediately, and do not return till its Direction be changed, always taking care to have a wet linen Cloth before your Nose and Mouth, and keep yourself on the Side opposite to the Direction of the Flame: And also to have another such Cloth, in order to smother the Flame, and close the Crevise through which the Spirits issue.
Should it be your Misfortune to be covered with inflamed Spirits, wrap yourself in a wet Sheet, which should be always ready for that Purpose. Self-Preservation is of too great Importance that any of these Precautions should be omitted in such Variety of Dangers.
If the Fire has acquired such a Head that it cannot be stopt, the Receiver must be broke, and the Alembic, if portable, thrown down; but no Person must be suffered to go near them, especially those who are Strangers to the Business.