Nothing definite is known of Mary the Jewess.

A writer of the 7th century says she was initiated in the sacred art in the temple of Memphis; a legend prevailed among some of the alchemists that she was the sister of Moses.
Fig.

X.p.85, represents methods of distilling with an apparatus for cooling the volatile products; the lower vessel is an _alembic_, with a long neck, the upper part of which passes through a vessel containing cold water.
[Illustration: Fig XIII.

_See p.

94._] Fig.XI.p.88, shows a _pelican_, that is a vessel wherein a liquid might be heated for a long time, and the volatile products be constantly returned to the original vessel.
Fig.XII.p.89, represents a retort with a receiver.
Some of the pieces of apparatus for distilling, which are described by French, are shown in the following figures.