2 1 5 Review of Hints to AgmcttUuriJts . May 



According, then, to the theory of this notable theorlfb, (who 

 at fame time is no theorift), the great principle of vegetation 13 

 fcrmentatioji^ through the mean of the produf^ion oi fixed air^ 

 alias carbonic acid \ which is the true pabulum vitie to the vege- 

 table creation ; and the only one, at leafl, which, it would feem, 

 human induftry can fupply. 



Every dabbler in chenufiry (to ufe an exprcflion of our author) 

 knows that all pure alkalis are of a cauftic nature, and that dur- 

 ing this their Hate of purity and caufticity, they greedily abforb 

 aerial, alias carbonic acid, from the atmofphere, till they are fa- 

 turated and neutralized, or rendered mild ; that the attraftion, 

 however, betwixt alkalis and this carbonic acid is fliglit, in com- 

 p.jrifon with the fuperior attra<'lion they have for other acids ; 

 and that, upon expofing, therefore, mild alkalis, i. e. alkahs that 

 have abforbed carbonic acid, to the aftion oi acids for which 

 they have a fuperior attraction, the carbonic acid is diflodged, 

 and the other acid taken up in its room ; that the carbonic acid, 

 (which, in combination with the alkali, had remained in a fixed 

 ftatc), upon quitting it, reaffumes its aeriform nature, and in e- 

 fcaping forms a hiJfmg noife, or an ebullition, if the acid applied 

 to dillodge it is in a liquid form, whence lieat too is generated. 

 Vulgarly, this ebullition, hifling and ctlervefcence, has been de- 

 figned fermentation ; and accordingly limeftone or marl are faid, 

 vulgarly, to ferment with vinegar or other acids : But even 

 though the v/oxd. fermentation (hould be retained in compliance 

 with common ufage, we could hardly have conceived that even 

 tlie moft fuperficial dabbler could have been capable of confound- 

 ing this fort of fermentation with thofe properly defigned fermen- 

 tations, viz. the vinous, the acetous, and the puiref active. 



That what our author had in view (if indeed he had any de- 

 finite ideas at all, which we very much doubt), in eftablifliing 

 his fermentatioji as the great principle of vegetation, through the 

 produftion of fixed air, was merely the ebullition aiid effervefccnce 

 above defcribcd, and by the vulgar called firmenlation, is evi- 

 dent, not only from the infeparably charatleriftic tnodus operandi 

 afcribed to it, being the produ^ion of fixed air, but alfo from a 

 variety of particular paiTages in the pamphlet, in which this e- 

 buUition or elTervefcence is particularly defcribed as conftituting 

 his fermentation ; but our bounds will allow us only to make the 

 following references — page iS- foot note; page 21. (in the midll 

 of a moll abfurd diflertatioa on lime '^■)-^ page 23. ; and page 34. 

 at top. 



Tlie 



* Every dabbler in chemlflry knows tiiat tlie effect of burning is to 

 expel the carbonic acid froiri lime, after which; the hmc is in a purely 



cauflic 



