A Simple Water Still THOMAS C . HERNDON fistern Kentucky Stote Teaekers College, Richmond, Kentucky
IN THESE days of shortages of materials when most metals have started to their proper destinations -the theaters of war-the difticu1ti;s df securing laboratory equipment made of metal areinneasingsteadily. This fact, coupled with declining revenues due to curtailment of enrollments, makes necessity not only the mother of invention but the father also. The still shown in the accompanying figure was designed hy the author and constructed in the college shop. The boiler is a discarded ether drum of fivegallon capacity. The condenser jacket is a scrap of two-inch water pipe of convenient length. The condenser inner-tube assembly is of one-inch brass tubing and fittings. The operation is automatic and is obvious from an inspection of the figure. Heat is furnished by a Cenco burner No. 11100 using natural gas. The total cost for labor and materials, including the burner did not exceed seven dollars and fifty cents. The output of distilled water is somewhat more than one-half gallon per hour a t a cost of less than three cents per gallon a t local gas and water rates. Its economy is one of its principal advantages. This still has been in operation for over five months and has required no attention whatever. It is registered with the U. S. Department of Internal Revenue.
