GASIFORM OXIUE OF CARBON. 1 j7 



either when expoftd to the a6lion of fire, or when brought 

 into contafl with matters capable of combining with them, 

 the operator was obliged to employ bulky veflels, difficult tp Inconvenience 

 manage, and fo inconvenient, that he did not >vifli to apply ^^^^^"^'^^"*''** 

 them ; and when he did, it was impoflible for him to collet 

 the aeriform fluids with any accuracy; for when they weril 

 rarefied to a coxifiderable degree, they efcaped through aper- 

 tures left purpofely to preferve the veflTels from burfting. 



Thefe inconveniences are now removed by Wou!fe*s appa- Contrafted ad- 

 ratus, fo that the operations in which gafes are evolved niay ^^"J^^^^ °^ ^^* 

 eafily be performed in veiTels of fmail bulk ; the gafes may be ment of veffeU.* 

 fubjeded to calculation; their quantity as well as qu9.1itv 

 afcertained with the utmoU precifion ; and operations, which 

 were formerly confidered as very hazardous to the operator, 

 may now be continued for hours together without the Icaft 

 fear of injury. 



With thefe advantages many others are conne6led ; and it 

 is known to every one, that they are owing to the degree of 

 perfedlion to which chemifts have brought Woulfe's appa- 

 ratus, and particularly to their happy application of it on 

 various occafions. 



Yet, notwithftanding thefe difcoveries have been carried a Improvemrnts 

 ^reat way, it is more than probable that many remain to be y^^/"^"^^""^ ^o tf 

 made : too much praife therefore cannot be beftowed on thofe 

 who turn their attention to this important objedt, fince the 

 apparatufes they invent are fo many new means afforded che- 

 mifls of colleding an infinite number of produds which fre- 

 quently efcape them, and the knowledge of which may have 

 great influence on the improvement of chemical fcience. 



From thefe motives I haveithought it may be of ufe to make Invention of Mr. 

 known an apparatus just invented by Mr. Baruel, operator ^^"^"^^^ 

 lo the chemical lectures of the Medical School at Paris. 



This young chemift, who had often noticed the diflicultiesfordecompofing 

 and even danj^ers incurred when it is necefl^ary to decompoie ^^^^^* °'' *^°'"", 



,. , •ij-iY' r 1 n bining them With 



gales, or to combme them with ditterent lubltances, attempted other fubflances. 



to make fome alteration in the proceflies commonly employed 



in the laboratory for operations of this fort ; and after feveral 



trials he invented an apparatus, which fucceeded beyond his 



hopes. 



I have feen this apparatus employed with the gre^.teft fuc- Gafiform oxide 

 cefs for the fabrication of the gafiform oxide of carbon. This°^ *=^''^°" ^"^ 



merly procured 

 I gas, with difficulty. 



