3a8 Ammoniac. — Sea-water. 



fyphon, with which the liquors are fuffered to run down on one of the fides of the neck of 

 the veflel ; which neck for that purpofe ought not to exceed two inches in length. I have 

 notfeen this procefs ia any French author (if I am not deceived), though it is defcribed in 

 one of the fiift Journals of Crell. 



On Ammof2iac. 



It is known, that the flame of a candle placed at the mouth of a cylinder full of ammo- 

 riacal gas is enlarged. From this hSt, I have ufually in my leisures mixed it with one part 

 of oxygen gas, in which cafe it takes fire, and detonates. For want of time, I have not con- 

 ftrufted an eudiometer of iron, or of glafs, with a conduftor of iron to operate over the waiter 

 bath. Mixing thefe two gafes afterwards, and detonating them, the quantity of azote con- 

 tained in the volatile alkali, may be very accurately feparated in putrid fea-water^^ 



Sea-water. 



Two years ago, the Prince of Parma had the goodnefs to fend me fome bottles very well 

 corked of putrid water, taken from a veflel in its return from Carthagena. 



Upon opening one of them, I readily perceived the fmell of hepatic gas. Water tinged 

 with a folution of copper was precipitated of a brown colour, and this precipitate, coUedted 

 and examined by the blow-pipe, proved to be the blue fulphuret of copper. 



After the water had lofl: its fmell by expofure to the air, I examined it, and found it ex- 

 ceflively loaded with plafter, which led me to conclude that the calk had certainly not been 

 filled with river-water. 



So large a quantity of fulphate of lime in this water could not but produce fulphurated 

 hydrogen in its putrefadion ; for which reafon I was not furprized at its quality ; but in 

 river water which does not contain plafter, what may be the nature of their putrefa(£tion ? As 

 I have never feen ftinking water of this fecond kind, I fuppofe it would be neceflary to be in 

 fome fea-port to obferve, analyze, and endeavour to render them fweet. 



In the mean time, the following faiSs with regard to hepatized waters, may be of feme 

 ufe towards the folution of this important problem. 



With about half an ounce of magnefia in powder, agitated in the putrid water, I caufed 

 all its bad fmell to difappear in lefs than four minutes. 



In order to afcertain ftill more clearly the efFedt of magnefia, it was neceflfary to apply it to 

 water in the higheft degree ftinking. For that purpofe, I ftrongly agitated an ounce of 

 magnefia in powder, in a pint of artificial hepatic water, the moft ftinking I could poflibly 

 make, and in a few inftants I fucceeded very well in ameliorating the fmell ; but it obfiinately 

 retained a fmell of onions which I could not difpel ; but even in this ftate, in cafe of neceflity, 

 I. could have drank it without repugnance. 



SCIENTIFIC 



