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To Purify Nitre

Nitre or salt- This yellow prussiate of potash is the pruspetre is purified for medicinal use in the fol- siate of potash of commerce. It is obtained lowing manner: Dissolve 4 pounds commercial by exposing 10 parts potash or pearlash; 10 nitre in 1 quart boiling distilled water; with- parts coke, cinders, or coal; and 5 parts iron draw the heat, and stir constantly as it cools. turnings, all in coarse powder, to a full red The minute crystals, thus obtained, are to be heat in an open crucible, stirring occasionally drained, and washed in a glass or earthenware until small jets of purple flame are no longer percolator, with cold distilled water, until the seen. When cool, the soluble matter is diswashings cease to give a precipitate with a so- solved out of it, the solution filtered, evapolution of nitrate of silver. The contents of rated, and crystallized. The crystals obthe percolator are then to be withdrawn and tained are redissolved in hot water and cooled dried in an oven. (Cooley.) very slowly, forming large yellow crystals of