Distillation apparatus. 16th-century illustration of an alchemist (left) and his assistant using a double-still to perform a distillation. The apparatus includes a central pipe (tower) and receptacles (green, upper right and upper left) to collect the distillate. The liquids being distilled are being heated in the cucurbit vessels (green, lower left and lower right). This is the title page of 'Liber de arte distillandi de compositis' (1512), published in Strasbourg by German surgeon and alchemist Hieronymus Brunschwig (c.1450-c.1512). This work is a practical manual on chemical, alchemical, and distillation devices, and techniques used to manufacture potions and drugs.