252 ESSAYS anp OBSERVATIONS 
made no other change upon it, but turn- 
ing the liquor, which was before muddy, 
clear. From all which, he fays; it ap- 
pears, this fpirit is of an alkaline nature; 
and that, except a little oil, contains chief: 
ly a volatile alkaline falt. 
THE oil which was found fwimming up- 
on the water or fpirit had a {trong empy- 
reumatical {mell, tho’ not fo fcetid as the 
diftilled oil of animals, yet ftronger than 
that of oils diftilled from bituminous mi- 
neral fubftances, and was in fmell the 
moft like that of peat fmoke. In the cold, 
it congealed into a body of the confiftence 
of foap or honey, or rather into a pitchy 
- fubftance of a redifh brown colour, being 
of a cauftic pungent tafte ; upon the fire 
it melted like wax, and when cold, look- 
ed like the foot of peat. 
Tuis oil eafily catches fire, but is foon 
again extinguifhed. “When kindled, it 
burns like weak fpirit of wine, but not 
fo intenfely. When put upon the fire in 
a {poon, if you approach a lighted candle, 
it kindles into a flame ; and, upon the re- 
moval of the candle, is immediately ex- 
we ' tinguifhed ; 
