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COHOBATION

Volume 3 · 138 words · 1778 Edition

in chemistry, an operation by which the same liquor is frequently distilled from the same body, either with an intention to dissolve this body, or to produce some change upon it. This is one of those operations which the ancient chemists practised with great patience and zeal, and which are now neglected. To make this operation easier, and to prevent the trouble of frequently changing the vessels, a particular kind of alembic, called a pelican, was invented. This vessel was made in the form of a cask with an alembic-head, but had two spouts communicating with the body. As the vapour rose up into the head, it was gradually condensed, and ran down the spouts into the body of the pelican, from whence it was again distilled; and so on. This vessel is represented Plate LXXVII. fig. 6.