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

by Johann Rudolf Glauber

In the first place I shall speak of wooden Vessels that are to be used instead of Copper stills, in the distilling of burning spirits out of wine, beer, lees, malt, wheat, meal, roots, hearbs, flowers, seeds, and other vegetables, as also oyls of vegetables.

See that thou hast an oken barrel, like to those wherein wine and beer are kept, of a just bigness, viz. answerable to the bigness of the globe, as is sufficient for the coction: for a barrel that is too big will make the coction slow, and tedious. A greater globe may be fitted to a lesser barrel, but not on the contrary, a great barrel to a little globe: For by how much the bigger the globe is, and the less the barrel, so much the sooner is the work hastned. Now seeing that this Art was invented for the saving of costs, which otherwise would have been expended in providing of stils, cauldrons, furnaces, &c. it is best not to have too great a globe, which requires a greater furnace, and is more hardly to be carryed, because it is to be covered within with lute, or a wall; for it is sufficient if it be big enough for the coction. Wherefore I will give you a just and due proportion of both, viz. of the globe, and vessel, which in distillations and other operations, the curteous reader may imitate.

A globe of the bigness of a mans head, containing three or four cannes, whereof each containeth four pints, is sufficient for the heating of a barrel of 30, 40, 50, 60. and 100 gallons, which by how much the more remote from 100 and nearer to 30, so much the sooner is it heated, and the coction furthered; and on the contrary, by how much the nearer it is to 100 and more remote from 30, so much the slower is the coction. I do not therefore advise that a huge barrel be chosen for a small globe, by reason of a long and tedious operation: And if all and every thing be not so accurately observed to a hair, yet it matters not much, because it sufficeth to do the same thing by the help of one small copper instrument of divers forms. For in this way of distilling, wooden vessels that are requisite to the distilling of spirits, and boyling of Bear, and for baths are more easily provided, then so many copper vessels in the common way. For by this means not only costs are spared, but also it is in stead of building of furnaces, because when any barrel hath been used, you may remove it, and set another in the place of it for another operation, the which cannot be done with stills and cauldrons fastened into a furnace. And this invention is for those that want Artificers, as Coppersmiths, &c. because wooden instruments are more easily provided: also by the help of this globe may most secret operations be performed.

For the furnace with the copper globe may be built in one place, and in another place the Balneum, viz. the places divided with a wall, so that he that looks to the fire may not know what is done in the Elaboratory; for oftentimes the care of the fire is committed to heedless servants, that break glass instruments by their carelesseness, by which means oftentimes a most pretious medicine is lost; which danger this invention is without.

Wherefore this copper globe with its wooden vessels is more convenient then those copper stills and cauldrons. But this I would have thee know that this new invented distillation is slower, then the common way which is performed by stills, and consequently requires a long fire. I desire therefore the rich that dwell in large and spacious houses, that they would use the old way of distilling; but the poor, who have but little houshold conveniences, and the covetous, that they would use this little copper globe with its wooden vessels: for although there be a longer fire required, yet these are not to be compared to those costs which are otherwise expended upon so many copper vessels of so many divers forms. Let him therefore keep to his copper vessels, who cannot understand me, for it concernes not me. Without doubt there are some whom this my new invented way of distilling will please, before other, being communicated for the sake of the poor labouring house-keepers, that cannot boyl Beer, and distill burning spirits for lack of vessels: for a globe of five or four pound is more easily provided, then other copper vessels of 60, 80, 100 pound: also those wooden vessels are more easily provided than furnaces, which some for want of place only cannot build. Choose therefore which way thou wilt, for these things which I have wrote, I have wrote for the poors sake rather than for the rich. Certainly rich men that have spacious Elaboratories need not to be ashamed to follow this way, for it is free for every man to go a shorter way, unless they had rather prefer the old way before a new and compendious, whom I cannot help, being contented with a publication which is made for the sake of my neighbour, whether it be taken well or ill, with a good minde, certainly knowing that more profit then disprofit may be obtained by the help thereof. It shall not therefore repent him of his labor, who knows rightly to prepare and use this copper, and wooden vessels.

There follows now the preparation of the vessel.

The vessel being made is to be placed with one bottom, upon a stool that is fitted for it, which being done, make a hole with a wimble neer the bottom, for the receiving of the neck of the copper globe, which is to be covered over with a linnen cloth: make also about the lower bottom another hole for a tap, by the help whereof the remainder of the distillation is drawn forth: also you must make a large hole in the upper bottom, the diameter whereof must be one span for to pour in the water to be distilled, with a funnel. Also there must be made a hole near the upper bottom of two or three fingers breadth, into which is to be put a copper pipe of a span long, which is to be fastened closely therein; and to this pipe another oaken vessel with a copper worm and cold water like to other refrigeratories, must be applyed. Also the joints of the aforesaid short pipe, viz. of the first barrel, and of the second barrel, viz. the refrigeratory must be straightly, and closely united together, which afterward may be the better joyned together with a fit lute for the distilling. And this is the form and fashion of the wooden vessel, that is to be used in the place of copper vessels, in the distilling of burning spirits and oyls. But thou wilt object that these kind of wooden vessels are porous, and drink up great part of the spirit and oyls.

I answer; none of the spirits seeketh a violent passage out, in case the ways be open. There is no danger therefore, when there is passage enough given them by a pipe that is wide enough. Neither doth oyl stick to them in distillation, for whatsoever is by force of the boyling water to be separated from the spices, and seeds that also is sublimable by the force of the seething water, so as to distill in, so that in the refrigeratory no more is lost than in the stills. Distillation being made, the aforesaid spirits may be rectified in these wooden vessels, (being first washed) as well as in copper stills.

The making of a wooden vessel for a Balneum, which is to be used in stead of copper and leaden Cauldrons for digestion, and distillation by glass vessels.

Make an oaken vessel as big or as little as you please, according to the greatness, or littleness, multitude, or fewness of the vessels, of two or three spans high, a little narrower above then below, and so fashioned above, that a cover of wood, copper, or lead, may most closely be joyned to it: the cover must have holes greater or lesser, according to the glasses, as is wont to be in the making of a Balneum, as you may see by the annexed figure. This vessel also must be placed upon a stool of the height of an ell, or such height as is required for the joyning of the copper globe with the Balneum, which must have a hole near the lower bottom, for the receiving of the neck of the aforesaid globe. In defect of such a vessel, which yet you may provide easily enough, take a wine or bear vessel divided in the middle, and make a hole near the bottom for the neck of the globe, make also a wooden cover with holes, &c. He that will be curious may provide all things according to the best Art.