FINIS.
THE
SECOND PART
OF
Philosophical Furnaces:
Wherein is Described the Nature of the Second Furnace; by the help whereof, all volatile, subtle, and combustible things may he distilled; whether they be Vegetables, Animals, or Minerals, and that after an unknown and very compendious Way; whereby nothing is lost, but even the most subtle spirits may be caught and preserved, which else without the means of this Furnace is impossible to be done by Retorts or other Distilling Instruments.
Of the Structure of the Second Furnace.
The Distilling Vessel must be made of Iron, or good earth, such as can abide in the fire (whereof in the fifth Part of this Book it shall be taught) and you may make it as big or as little as you please, according as your occasion shall require. That of iron is most fit to be used for such spirits, as are not very sharp or corroding, else they would corrode the vessel: but that of earth may be used for such things, as shew their activity upon the Iron, and do make it to melt, as sulphur, Antimony and the like; and therefore you ought to have two such vessels, viz. one of iron, and one of earth, to the end that for both sorts of materials (corrosive or not corrosive) you may have proper vessels, and fit furnaces for their distilling, and that they may not be spoiled by things contrary and hurtful to them. The shape of the vessel is shewed by the foregoing figure, viz. the lower part of it somewhat wider than the upper part, and twice as high as wide; at the top having a hollow space between the two edges or brims, whereinto the edge of the lid may close and enter in an inch deep. The lid must have a ring or handle, by which it may be taken off and put on again with a pair of tongs. The lid must have a deep edge answering to the hollow space aforesaid. The lower part must have three knobs or shoulders thereby to rest upon the wall of the furnace; the form whereof is no other, than that of a common distilling furnace with a sand Copple; as the figure of it doth shew: but if you will not have the furnace, then it needeth no knobs or shoulders, if so be the distilling vessel be flat at the bottom, or else have legs, for to stand upon them: Beneath the edge of the vessel there comes forth a spout or pipe of a span in length, and one or two inches wide, and somewhat narrower before than behind, through which the spirits are conveyed into the Receiver.
See the fourth Figure before the first part, wherein the Letter A. represents the Furnace, with the Iron distilling Vessel fastned into it, whereunto a Receiver is applied.
B. The Distiller, with his left hand taking off the lid, and with his right hand casting in his prepared matter.
C. The external form of the distilling vessel.