Page images
PDF
EPUB

alcaline, or earthy body whatever, is capable of decompounds ing the compound thus formed of the faccharine acid, and calcarous earth.

Differtations III. and IV. On the Waters at Upfal: and on the Acidulous Waters in the Parish of Danemarks,

These two articles, independent of the immediate or local purposes for which they were drawn up, furnish useful exemplifications and illuftrations of the rules contained in the preceding differtation.

Differtation V. On Sea Water.

Dr. Sparrman, who joined Dr. Forfter in the last expedition to the South Seas, brought home with him, and gave to the Author for his examination, feveral glass bottles filled with fea water, drawn up from very great depths, in the latitude of the Canary Islands. We fhall not take any further notice of this Analyfis, than juft to obferve, that the water was perfectly inodorous, and though not grateful to the tafte, it did not excite a nausea, like that which is taken from the surface of the sea.

[ocr errors]

M. Bergman accounts for this laft circumftance, by obferving, that the immense number of fishes who die in the fea, rife up to the furface, in confequence of the inflation attending putrefac tion; fo that the water, at great depths, is not contaminated by them. When there is a fcarcity of water, in a hip, he thinks much fresh water might be faved, by boiling the fhip's victuals in an equal quantity of this purer sea water. Differtation VI, On the Method of imitating the Cold medicated Waters.

By the cold medicated waters, the Author means those whofe faline, metallic, or earthy ingredients, are held in folution by fixed air; fuch as thofe of Pyrmont, Spa, Seltzer, &c. After giving an exact analysis of the contents of four of the principal of these natural waters; he teaches the method of preparing each of them by art, or by fynthesis. From the late discoveries relative to this fubject, no doubt can be entertained that art, in this one inftance at leaft, is capable of excelling naturewhatever the mayor and burgeffes of Spa or Pyrmont may allege to the contrary. In this, and the following Differtation, the Author appears in the light of a good patriot as well as chemist; exhibiting, in a note, the fums paid by Sweden for the natural waters imported into that kingdom in 1773 and 1774; which may now be faved, by fubftituting the artificial waters in their place. We fhall not dwell on this fubject, but fhall attend to the next differtation, which contains matters lefs known. Differtation VII. On the Method of imitating the Hat medicated Waters.

[ocr errors]

It appears extremely fingular to us, that the curious procefs defcribed in this differtation, by which the warm or fulphureous

waters,

waters, such as thofe of Aix-la-Chapelle, &c. are perfectly imitated, fhould have been fo long overlooked at leaft, this is the first notice that we have received of it. It confifts fimply in adding the vitriolic acid to bepar fulphuris, and impregnating water with the peculiar fpecies of air that arifes from this mixture; in the fame manner as when water is impregnated with the fixed air, arifing from the mixture of that or any other acid with chalk. This hepatic air t, as the Author calls it, is very readily abforbed by water; to which it gives the fmell, tafte, and all the other fenfible qualities of the fulphureous waters, A Swedish cantharus of diftilled water, will absorb about fixty cubic inches of this hepatic air; and on dropping into it the nitrous acid, as we have mentioned under the fecond differtation, it will appear, that a real fulphur is contained, in a state of perfect folution, in this water, to the quantity of eight grains. It does not appear that any other acid, except what the Author calls the Dephlogifticated Marine Acid, will produce this effect.When any particular fulphureous water is to be imitated, we fcarce need to obferve, that the faline, or other contents peculiar to it, are to be added to the artificial hepatic water. Instead of the liver of fulphur, the operator may use a mixture of three-parts of filings of iron, and two-parts of fulphur melted together t

It may perhaps be thought that water thus prepared does not differ from that in which a portion of the hepar fulphuris has been diffolved: but to us it appears evidently to differ from it in this material circumftance; that in the folution of hepar fulphuris, the fulphur is held in folution by the water, through the means of the alcali combined with it: whereas, in M. Bergman's procefs, it does not appear probable that the hepar fulphuris rifes fubftantially, in the form of air; for, in that cafe, its prefence in the hepatic water might be detected by means of the weakeft of the acids (even the mephitic), which would precipitate the fulphur from it. Nor can it be fuppofed that any por tion, or conftituent part, of the alcali itfelf (except a part of its remaining fixed air) can come over. The water therefore muft owe its impregnation to the fulphur, raised, in some peculiar manner, into the state of an elastic vapour; permanent, when the experiment is made in quickfilver; but condenfible in water, and rendered foluble in that fluid through the means of fome unknown principle combined with it, and which the Author fuppofes to be the matter of heat, combined with it through the medium of phlogiston..

+ Part of this air, as we have found, is fixed air, proceeding from the fält of tartar.

In this cafe, there appears to us, to be very little abforption: the hepatic air, or vapour, feeming to be dissolved, or suspended in inflammable air.

In

In our account of Dr. Priestley's laft volume of Experiments, . (M. R. June 1779, p. 414, &c.] we took notice of one of the ways, indicated by one of his experiments, by which the Tulphur is produced that is found in the yaults and aqueducts at Aix la Chapelle. The prefent procefs not only clearly explains the manner in which thefe waters become impregnated with fulphur; but likewife the caufe of the appearance of the crude fulphur above mentioned. It appears, from the Author's experiments, that air, as well as the nitrous acid, has the property of decompounding this water:-even that small quantity of atmapherical air, that is contained in common water, has this quafity in a fufficiently fenfible degree, when the latter is employed in the process, instead of fresh distilled water, or water that has been lately boiled. When the natural fulphureous waters, therefore, come in contact with the external air; the latter, according to the Author, feizes the phlogiftic principle which kept the fulphur diffolved in the water; and thus, in time, are formed thole fulphureous crufis, which, as well as even the prefence of actual fulphur in thefe waters, have been the fubjects of fo much controverly among the chemifts.

Differtation VIII. On the Acid of Sugar.

In this ingenious Differtation, M. Bergman communicates the difcovery of a new acid; the method of producing it, and its chemical properties and affinities with respect to various other fubftances. The procefs for procuring it is briefly this: To one

longeft

ounce of the fineft fugar are added three ounces of the gifti

fpirit of pirre, in a tubulated retort, After the moft phlogifti cated part of the nitrous acid has exhaled, a receiver is to be adapted to the neck of the retort, and the folution made to boil gently, till it acquires a brown or chefaut-colour; when three more ounces of nitrous acid are to be added, and the ebullition is to be continued till the tinged and smoking acid has nearly difappeared. The liquor remaining in the retort is now to be put into a broad veffel; and, on cooling, quadrilateral prifmatic cryftals will be formed, which, after being dried oh a bibuJous paper, will weigh about a drachm and and to grains."

The remaining liquor, in which the cryftals were formed, is to be treated in the fame m manner, with two ounces more of fpirit of nitre; and will furnish half a drachm and 13 grains of fresh cryftals. To the glutinous fluid, now remaining, two more ounces of nitrous acid are to be added in small portions, at different times; and the whole is to be evaporated to drynefs: when a faline mafs is left, which, when dry, weighs about half a drachm. Thefe different products mixed together are purified by repeated folution and cryftallisation.

The cryftals thus procured are the acid of fugar;-the laft difcovered, and the dearest of the acids; for to produce one

ounce

ounce of it (from three ounces of fugar) thirty ounces of Arong fpirit of nitre muft be employed. Sugar, however, is not the only fubftance from which it is to be, procured.It may be ex tracted not only from honey, and other faccharine juices, but likewife from gum arabic, and even the most highly rectified fpirit of wine.

M. Bergman relates, in detail, the various, combinations of this new acid with faline, earthy, and metallic fubftances. From a combination of it with spirit of wine, he procured a kind of ather; inferior, however, to the vitriolic and other æthers in inflammability. The fixity and ftrength of this acid are very, confiderable; fo that, as we have indeed already, hinted, it expels even the vitriolic acid from gypfum and felenite. Ou being, expofed to heat in clofe vefleis, the water of its cryftallifationis.. first partly expelled; and a great part of the falt is fublimed in a purer ftate a very great quantity of air, or elaftic vapour rifing during the diftillation. From half an ounce of the cryftals, near 100 cubic inches of air were produced; half of which confifted of fixed air, capable of being abforbed by line water: in the other portion, a candle burned, and with a blue flame.

Confidering the large quantity of fpirit of nitre employed in producing this acid; it might be fufpected that it is only a mo-. dification of that acid; especially as the Author has not yet been able to procure it by any other means; fuch as fimple diftillation, detonation, with nitre, digeftion and decoction with the vitriolic, and dephlogisticated marine acids, &c. It is certain, however, that it has properties not only different from, but likewife contrary to, thote of the nitrous acid; which, in moft cafes, it expels from its bafes. Befides, it is allowed that fugar, as an effential falt, contains an acid; though enveloped in, and combined with, various faponaccous, and phlogiffic, matters. M. Bergman's idea is, that the nitrous acid, in confequence of the peculiar avidity with which it combines with phlogiston, breaks the union of thefe matters with the faccharine acid, and leaves the latter difengaged. Be this as it may, the difcovery of an acid, differing in its qualities fo much as this does from the nitrous and other acids, is certainly no fmall acquifition to the art of chemistry.

[ocr errors]

We have extended this article to Tuch a length that, at prefent at least, we fhall only oblerve, that there remain three other differtations, which, like the former, exhibit many proofs of the chemical skill, genius, and industry of the Author. These are, Differ, IX. On Alum, and its Preparation Diller. X. On the si Combinations of Antimony with Tartar, and the Tartarecus Acid and Dtter. X. On Magnesia. In a late foreign publication, we have feen with pleafure a fecond volume of this collection of Differtations advertired, as being then in the prefs; of which, when it appears, we fhall not fail to give an account. MONTHLY

[ocr errors]

NTHLY

CATALOGUE,

For JANUARY, 1780.

POLITICAL.

Art. 12. Facts: addreffed to the Landholders, Stockholders, Merchants, Farmers, Manufacturers, Tradefmen, Proprietors of every Defcription, and generally to all the Subjects of Great Bri→ tain and Ireland. Svo. 2 s. Johnson, &c. 1780.

[ocr errors]

HIS, as the title imports, is not a pamphlet of SPECULATION, but of BUSINESS,-bufinefs of the most serious and important afpect, with regard to the political welfare of this community. It bears reference to one of the greatest objects of government ;-the ceconomical application of the public revenue; for without EcoNOMY it is impoffible for even the mightiest STATES and EMPIRES, any more than private families and individuals, to fubfift, with any profpect of durability. As DISORDER is always followed by DISTRESS, fo wherever WASTE and EMBEZZLEMENT prevail, POVERTY and RUIN are infeparably in their train: nor is it poffible for human policy to divide companions who, in the unalterable nature of things, are eternally united.

[ocr errors]

The Fats here brought forward, to the general view, relate merely to the expenditure of the public money. Our Authors [for this tract is fuppofed to be the production of more than one hand, or one head] have avoided to take notice of the shameful abufes which prevail in the receipt of the revenue, and in the manner of accounting for it.' The waite and plunder,' it is added, of the public money under thefe heads, are not of a lefs magnitude, or of smaller importance, than the abufes in the expenditure. But they deferve a feparate difcuffion, and fhall have it; if it fhall appear that the intelligence here communicated is welcome to the public, and ferves at all to roufe them to a sense of their wrongs, and to resolutions of obtaining juftice.

The reprefentations here made, are profeffedly founded on the Duke of Richmond's and Lord Shelburne's celebrated motions in the Houfe of Lords, Dec. 7th and 15th, afferting the prodigality and wafte of the national treafure, and urging the indifpenfable neceffity. of immediately applying the remedies proper for a diforder fo imminently dangerous to the body politic. The rectitude of those [three] motions is first confidered and evinced, by way of preliminary difcourfe; and then the Authors proceed to state, in

Chap. II. The charges of the prefent war,-in order to demon ftrate the propofition which ftands at the head of the chapter, viz. that nothing can more forcibly prove the extreme neceffity of the propofed reformation, than an exhibition of the expence already incurred by the war, even with the fuppofition that a peace had been fettled at Christmas 1779. The accuracy of the estimates must be

The Duke well obferved, that profufion is not vigour; that true œconomy, by retrenching all ufelefs expences, creates confidence in government, gives energy to its exertions, and provides the means for their continuance.

taken

« PreviousContinue »