328 ESSAYS AND OBSERVATIONS 



thick pitchy oil, an ounce and an half ; the 

 volatile oily fait or fpirit four ounces ; the 

 reft, the infipid phlegn:i received in an open 

 receiver. 



The phlegm being firft examined, was 

 nothing but a fimple clear watery liquor, 

 without tafte or fmell. 



The rediili yellow liquor that came next, 

 was a liquid volatile unctuous fait, compofed 

 of a watery phlegm, a volatile fait, and a 

 little oil, which commonly goes under the 

 name of fpirit. This mixt with fpirit of fea 

 fait occafioned only a few bubbles j it raifed 

 with oil of vitriol an effervefcence, and turned 

 muddy j it precipitated a folution of mercury 

 in aquafortis^ into a black powder, turned 

 fyrop of violets green, had no effect upon 

 chalk, fpirit of fait ammoniac : fpirit of harts- 

 horn made no other change upon it, but 

 turning the liquor, which was before muddy, 

 clear. From all which, he fays, it appears, 

 this fpirit is of an alkaline nature ; and that 

 except a little oil, contains chiefly a volatile 

 alkaline fait. 



The oil which was found fwiming upon 

 the water or fpirit had a ftrong empyreuma- 

 tical fmell, tho' not fo fetid as th? diftilled oil 



of 



I 



