The works of the highly experienced and famous chymist, John Rudolph Glauber

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

The Description of the Instrument, serving for the plentifully preparing of Spirits, and for the easie extraction of Metals out of their Oars, without much Cost.

This Instrument is to be made of good Earth, that can sustain both the Fire and the Spirits; Metals are unprofitable to make it with, because they doe not long resist the Corrosion of the Spirits; But now, that the said Instrument may the longer abide in the Fire, its outside superficies must be fenced with Iron bonds. This Earthen Vessel therefore must be made of such an Earth as abides the violence of the Fire, and resisteth the Corrosivity of the Spirits, so as that it breaks not nor chaps with too much heat, nor be corroded and eaten thorough by the Corroding Spirits. Such Earths there are enough of too and agen in Germany. Moreover, this said Instrument may be made greater or lesser, according as you are minded to prepare a greater or lesser quantity of Spirits; But however, it must not be made too big, for then (if it exceeds a due magnitude) it will not abide the fire so well. Therefore is it necessary to have several of these Instruments made, if a man be minded to make at one and the same time a great quantity of Spirits. But if any be minded to set about this Operation so as to have huge quantities of Spirits, it will be his best way to have his Instrument made of Iron plates, such as the Armourers use, and to strengthen them with Iron rods, and so fence it both in the inside and on the outside every-where with Lute or strong Clay. For by this means the Instrument being made of a sufficient bigness for the work you would put it to, will in its inward superficies hold the Corroding Spirits, and in its outward superficies undergo the violence of the fire without detriment, and be far more commodious than so many little Instruments that are made onely of Earth.

Of the Form and Figure of this Instrument.

The matters out of which the sharp Spirits are to be drawn, are not to be put nakedly in [as I may say] into the Instrument it self, but are to be put in some strong Earthen-pots and so put in, that after the Spirits are distilled off they may be again taken forth, and other Pots fill’d with new matter may be put in, in their room; and this to be so often done as need requires.

And seeing the Salts that are to be distilled are not put naked into the Instrument, but are put in, in Earthen-pots; the Instrument must necessarily be so prepared, as that those Pots may be put in as often as need is, and be again taken forth, when the Distillation is done, and new ones be put in, in their stead.

The Instrument therefore must be of a like bigness both above and below, and ’tis no matter to have it much exceed the heighth of your Pots you put in.

One side of it must have a Door to put in the Pots at, and to take them out again, the which Door must be made to shut handsomly after your putting in and taking forth.

To the other side must be fitted a Pipe somewhat large, by which the Spirits may have a passage forth into the Receiver. And the Instrument must be on such wise placed in the Furnace, as that the Door and Pipe may lie without the said Furnace. To the Pipe must be added another Leaden Pipe, twining round like a Serpent, and therefore is by the Chymists called a Serpent [or a Worm:] the which must be set in a Vessel full of Water, that so the Spirits passing out may be cooled and be caught in the Recipient.

Of the use of the Instrument.

When you will distill your Spirits, you must put thereinto so many Pots filled with your prepared Salts as your Instrument can hold, then close the Door well, and put Fire in the Furnace. This done, the Spirits will ascend out of the Pots thus heated in the Instrument, and finding no other out-let but by the Pipe and Worm, they will enter into them, and being there cooled will run down into the Receiver. You shall know if all the Spirits are forced out of the Salts or not, when they cease to flow out through the Worm into the Recipient. Which when you shall perceive, you must open your Door and take out the Pots in order, and then put in new, that so the Distillation may be continued on without any delaying. But now, those Pots that are to be put a-new into the Instrument, must be set nigh the Furnace a while, that they may grow hot: for else being put in cold, they would not brook the sudden heat, but chap and break. When all the Spirits are distilled off, then you may put in other new Pots in the room of them you took out, and the Operation is to be so long and so often repeated as need shall require, or as any one has a mind to do. The Salts that remain behind in the Pots you take out, are to be moistned and macerated with some Phlegm or weak Spirit, and they do again, sometimes emit Spirits by Distillation, but yet not in such quantity as at first they did.