17th century distillation equipment. Engraving of the distillation equipment designed by the German chemist Johann Glauber (1604-70). The furnace (lower right) was designed to promote a draught through it. It allowed substances to be heated to higher temperatures and under a greater range of conditions than ever before. The chemicals were mixed and initially heated in the vessel illustrated at lower left, upper left and upper right. The chemicals condensed in the glass bulb to the right of the furnace. This image is from Glauber's Furni novi philosophi (philosophical furnaces) published in 1648.