hy ga | ae 
Ir may at firft fight appear extraordinary that the faline matter 
and the infoluble part fhould weigh more than the pound of 
barilha that feemed to afford them, for this amounts only to 
5760 grains, and the two former weigh 7784 grains; but it 
fhould be confidered that thefe products were obtained not 
from the barilha alone, but from the barilha and the water in 
which the falts were diffolved, whofe cryftals retained a great 
quantity of it, and alfo from the air to which the folutions were 
expofed, and which they abforbed in large proportion. 
As the quantity of the infoluble matter was fubjeét to no fuch 
deceptive appearance, I began by examining the weight of that, 
for this being fubtra¢ted from 5760 grains neceflarily determined 
the true weight of the faline part, and as the ftate in which the 
faline part exifts in barilha depends in fome meafure of the earths 
and charcoal with which it is united, as well as the moft advan- 
tageous method of ufing it, I examined the nature and quantity of 
thefe very minutely. 
Havine therefore dried the infoluble matter for a confiderable 
time in a low heat until it appeared as dry as the barilha itfelf, 
and having found its weight in that ftate to amount to 2903 
grains or 6,04791 ounces, I took one ounce of it, and drying it 
in a heat little below rednefs, found it to lofe 38 grains of 
moifture. 
ANOTHER ounce of the fame refiduum being treated with 
dilute marine acid loft 125,5 grains of its weight, and this lofs 
exprefles the quantity of fixed air contained in it, 
ANOTHER 
