i84 ESSAYS AND OBSERVATIONS 



It is dilTolved in every acid but very 

 flowly, unlcfs aflifted by heat. The feveral 

 folutions, when thoroughly faturated, are all 

 aflringent with a flight degree of an acid 

 tafte, and they alfo agree with a folution of 

 alum in this, that they give a red colour to 

 the infu(ion of turnfol. 



Neither this earth, nor that of animal 

 bones, can be converted into quick-lime by 

 the ftrongeft fire, nor do they fuffer any 

 change worth notice. Both of them feem to 

 attrad: acids but weakly, and to alter their 

 properties lefs when united to them than the 

 other abforbents. 



Part II. 



IN reflecCling afterwards upon thefe expe- 

 riments, an explication of the nature of 

 lime offered itfelf, which feemed to account, 

 in an eafy manner, for moft of the proper- 

 ties of that fubftance. 



It is fufficiently clear, that the calcarious 

 earths in their native ftate, and that the 

 alkalis and magnefia in their ordinary condi- 

 tion, contain a large quantity of fixed air, and 



this 



