~ 
PHYSICAL ann LITERARY. 327 
they readily lay hold on the particles of cer- 
tain metals or femi-metals, calcarious or ab- 
forbent earths, or oppofite falts, fixt or vo- 
Jatile, which ferve them as the bafis; and, 
joined to thefe, they aflume a chryftalline 
form. 
III. Wen any of the acid liquors are 
joined, in due proportion, to any alcaline 
falt, whether fixt or volatile; the particular 
acrimony and pungency of both, as to our 
fenfes, and their power of diffolving certain 
bodies, in a feparate ftate, are quite deftroy- 
ed, at leaft, overcome and fufpended, by 
their union. 
IV. WueEN an acid seid has diffolved a 
~ metallic body, and is united to it; the folution 
and the vitriol made of it, are frequently 
_more acrid and corrofive, with refpect to the 
human body, than the acid by itfelf. I do 
not affirm this univerfally : but we have in- 
ftances of it in the folutions and vitriols of | 
 filver, quick-filver, copper, antimony. 
_ V. Wwewn the fpirits of nitre or fea falt 
are joined to falt of tartar, or pot-afh, and 
_ chryftallized; the chryftals affume the pecu- 
liar fhape, and moft remarkable’ properties 
“of the natural falt, from which the acid {pi- 
' rit 
