PFAFP OW RES P4 RATION, Y <235 



peratures. I have made a confiderable feries of experiments 

 on this i'ubjeft, which I (hall ftiortly fubmit to the National 

 Inftilute. I (hall only remark in this place, that the oxigenat- 

 ed muriatic acid is obtained at the commencement, if the 

 nitrate of ammonia be not entirely free from muriatic acid* 

 that at a temperature not exceeding 220 degrees of ths 

 centigrade thermometer, the gafeous oxide of azote is obtain- 

 ed in great quantity, and very pure, without any mixture of 

 ♦hole white vapours which have the taite of milliard; but 

 that a temperature ftill higher, efpeeially at a red heat, the 

 gafeous oxide of azote is no longer difengaged but nitrous 

 gas is formed, and very peculiar white vapours which I am, 

 at prefer) t examining. To prevent any exploiion, I always 

 mix the nitrate of ammonia with very pure fand. To obtain 

 the gafeous oxide of azote in a very pure itate, the diftillation. 

 ttjuft be made on a fand bath, and the fire carefully managed. 

 When every thing fucceeds properly, the gas is fo pure, that 

 it may be refpired immediately; it has an agreeable taftc, 

 almoft facchar vinous. If it be mixed with the white vapours 

 produced by too ftrong a heat, time muft be allowed for 

 them to be depofited. The effects which Davy has obferved, Davy's experl- 

 and Piotet has defcribed with fo much interest in his fecond per fci^iy with, 

 letter in the 17th Volume of the Bibliotheque Britannique, our author. 

 were perfectly confirmed in my experiments. Several peffons 

 who refpired this gas were exalted abfolutely in the fame 

 manner. One of thofe who refpired it was very fpeedily in- 

 toxicated, and put into a very extraordinary and mofr agree- 

 able extacy. Others refitted fomewhat longer; one only 

 feemed to be fcarcely at all affected. The exaltation arvvays 

 patted over without leaving any perceptible relaxation. J 

 ftill continue thefe experiments. Perhaps this gas may be- 

 come a powerful remedy for melancholy aflfeclions. I (hail 

 not fail to communicate the refults of my experiments to the 

 National Inftitute. 



VI. Experiments 



