a 
PHYSICAL ann LITERARY. 223 
In order to know how much lime it 
contained, I evaporated ten ounces in @ 
- fall filver difh over a lamp, and melted 
the falt, after having diffipated the wa- 
ter *. 
Tre cauftic thus produced was diffol- 
ved again in a {mall quantity of water, 
and depofited a trifling portion of fed1- 
ment, which I imagined at firft to be lime; 
but, finding that it could eafily be diffol- 
ved in a little more water, concluded it 
to be a vitriolated tartar, which always 
accompanies the fixed alkali of vegetables. 
Ithen faturated the folution of the cau- 
flic falt with fpirit of vitriol, expecting 
thus to detec the lime; becaufe that acid 
precipitates a calcarious earth from its or- 
dinary folutions. During the faturation, 
a large quantity of white powder was 
formed ; bat this likeways turned out to 
f be 
* This evaporation was performed in a filver difh, on 
account of the acrimony of the falt; which is fo very 
_ great, that, having once evaporated a part of the fame 
dey in a bowl of English earthen or lone ware, and melt- 
fee the cauftic with a gentle beat, it corroded and diffol- 
_ Yed a part of the bow!, aud left the infide of it pitted ' 
‘With {mall holes. 
