Experiment XXXIV
Next, take of common Brimſtone finely powdred five Ounces, of Sal-Armoniack likewiſe pulveriz’d an equal weight, of beaten Quick-lime ſix Ounces, mix theſe Powders exquiſitely, and Diſtill them through a Retort plac’d in Sand by degrees of Fire, giving at length as intenſe a Heat as you well can in Sand, there will come over (if you have wrought well) a Volatile Tincture of Sulphur, which may probably prove an excellent Medicine, and ſhould have been mention’d among the other Preparations of Sulphur, which we have elſewhere imparted to you, but that it is very pertinent to our preſent Subject, The change of Colours. For though none of the Ingredients be Red, the Diſtill’d Liquor will be ſo: and this Liquor if it be well Drawn, will upon a little Agitation of the Vial firſt unſtop’d (eſpecially if it be held in a Warmer hand) lend forth a copious Fume, not Red, like that of Nitre, but White; And ſometimes this Liquor may be ſo Drawn, that I remember, not long ſince, I took pleaſure to obſerve in a parcel of it, that Ingredients not Red, did not only yield by Diſtillation a Volatile Spirit that was Red, but though that Liquor did upon the bare opening of the Bottle it was kept in, drive us away with the plenty and ſulphureous ſent of a White ſteam which it ſent forth, yet the Liquor it ſelf being touch’d by our Fingers, did immediately Dye them Black.