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Nitrous Ether

Nitrous or hypovapor of ether is very inflammable, and when mixed with atmospheric air it forms a vio- nitrous ether has a pale yellow color, boils at air it forms a vionitrous ether has a pale yellow color, boils at lently explosive mixture. The density of 62° Fahr.; at 60° its specific gravity is .947; this vapor is 2.586, that of air being 1, hence it is very volatile. Take starch, 1 part; nitric it rapidly sinks, and frequently accumulates acid, specific gravity 1.30, 10 parts; alcohol of in the lower parts of buildings, especially cel- 85 per cent., 2 parts; water, 1 part; introduce lars which are badly ventilated. Every crack, every joint in the floors of rooms, the space beneath doors, &c., offer a road for the passage of this vapor, which, though invisible, as surely runs out of every orifice, and finds its level, as a stream of water would do. The the starch and acid into a capacious retort connected with a wide tube 2 or 3 feet long, bent at right angles, and terminating near the bottom of a two-necked bottle, containing the alcohol and water mixed together, and surrounded with a freezing mixture or very cold only remedy is thorough ventilation. Many water. The other neck of the bottle must be serious accidents have arisen from this cause; connected by a wide and long glass tube, with a light carried where such vapor is present a good refrigerator or condenser. The heat of causes an explosion. a water-bath must be cautiously applied to