CHAP. VIII.
Of the Remedies for Accidents, when they
happen.
Notwithstanding the best of Rules, and the strictest Observation, it is impossible entirely to prevent Accidents, and therefore it is of no less Importance to point out the Remedies on those Occasions.
The most essential, are Courage and Presence of Mind; Fear only increasing the Misfortune.
1. If the Fire be too violent it must be covered, but not so as totally to prevent its Action, as by that Means the Process of the Distillation would be interrupted, and render it more difficult and less perfect.
2. When the Ingredients burn, which you will soon discover by the Smell, the Fire must be immediately put out, in order to prevent the whole Charge of the Still being entirely spoiled, which would otherwise inevitably be the Consequence.
3. If the Spirits should catch fire, the first care is to unlute immediately the Receiver, and stop both the End of the Beak and Mouth of the Receiver with wet Clothes.
The Fire must then be put out, and if the Flame issued through the Luting, the Joints must be closed with a wet Cloth, which, together with Water, should never be wanting in a Distil-house.
4. If the Alembic be of Earth, and the Contents burn at the Bottom, the Fire must immediately be put out, the Alembic removed, and Water thrown upon it, till the Danger is over; and, for farther Security, covered with a wet Cloth.
5. If after all your Care in closing the Junctures to prevent Transpiration, you perceive any thing amiss, while the Spirits are ascending, apply Clay, or any other Composition, in order to stop the Aperture, and have always a wet Cloth ready to stifle the Flame, if the Spirits should take fire.
6. If the Heat detaches the Lute, or it becomes moist, immediately apply another, having always ready what is necessary for performing it. Should the Transpiration be so violent, that you cannot immediately apply a fresh Lute, clap a wet Cloth round the Joint, and keep it on firm and tight, till the Spirits have taken their Course. But if notwithstanding all your Efforts the Transpiration should increase, so that you fear a Conflagration, remove the Receiver as soon as possible from the Fire, and afterwards your Alembic, if portable; but if otherwise, put out the Fire immediately.
7. The Charge being worked off, be cautious in luting the Receiver, that nothing be spilt on the Furnace, and carry it to some Distance from it, that the Spirits exhaling may not take fire.
8. Lastly observe, that wherever a Remedy is required, there must be no Candle used; for the spirituous Vapours easily take fire, and propagate the Flame to the Vessels from whence they issue.
All that has been hitherto said concerns only the Management of the Alembic; but what remains is still more interesting, and relates to those who work it, that they may not, by conquering the Accident, destroy themselves.
On discovering any of the above Accidents, when the Flame has not yet reached the Spirits, let the Remedies already mentioned be applied, either with regard to the Lute, or the Violence of the Fire.
But if the Flame has reached the Alembic, the following Precautions are to be used.
The Operator must not approach the Alembic without a wet Cloth over his Mouth and Nostrils, it being immediate Death to inhale the inflamed Vapour.
In hastening to stop any Accident, be careful to approach the Side opposite to that whither the Air impels the Flame; for, without this Precaution you would be involved in it, and could not, without the utmost Difficulty, extricate yourself from it.
If notwithstanding this Precaution, the Eddy of the Air should force the Flame to your Side, quit the Place immediately, and do not return till its Direction be changed, always taking care to have a wet linen Cloth before your Nose and Mouth, and keep yourself on the Side opposite to the Direction of the Flame: And also to have another such Cloth, in order to smother the Flame, and close the Crevise through which the Spirits issue.
Should it be your Misfortune to be covered with inflamed Spirits, wrap yourself in a wet Sheet, which should be always ready for that Purpose. Self-Preservation is of too great Importance that any of these Precautions should be omitted in such Variety of Dangers.
If the Fire has acquired such a Head that it cannot be stopt, the Receiver must be broke, and the Alembic, if portable, thrown down; but no Person must be suffered to go near them, especially those who are Strangers to the Business.
In a desperate Case, like that of a large Quantity of rectified Spirit taking Fire, if Time permit, the Communication of the Beak of the Alembic with the Recipient, which is usually a Cask, must be cut off, by closely stopping the Bung; and be sure no Candle come near the Receiver, leaving the rest, as the Danger would be too great to expose ones self to the Flames of a large Charge, and the Distiller’s Safety should be principally considered.
I thought it my Duty to give my Reader these Informations, and hope that in the Practice of Distillation, he will find them of great Advantage.