156 Anal If sis of Scientific Books. 



100. Hence, if we deduct 28.9 oxygen + 3.6 hydrogen (=32.5, 

 water), from the above proportions, we have 



35.1 oxygen, or 52.00 



32.0 carbon, ,, 47.4 

 0.4 hydrogen 0.6 



67.5 100^ 



which is the composition of the real acid by his experiments. 

 Berzelins's analysis, which he now considers as nearly exact, 

 gives us, 



Oxygen 66.534 



Carbon 33.222 



Hydrogen 0.244 



loo.ooo* 



The above statement exposes, as we think, an attempt to sub- 

 stitute an absurd analysis for one nearly true ; for our author 

 compares the delusive constitution of an acid, containing, con- 

 fessedly, 32.5 per cent, of water, with Berzelius's real analysis of 

 the real acid, and from gross errors in his former estimate, which 

 cause an accidental and spurious resemblance, claims anticipa- 

 tion of the truth. 



The second subdivision of " primary compounds, formed by 

 the combination of two or more simple substances with each 

 other," comprehends " compounds of chlorine with supporters 

 and combustibles." " Secondary compounds," says Dr. Thom- 

 son, " are formed by the combination of two or more compound 

 bodies with each other. Thus i)hosphate of ammonia is com- 

 posed of phosphoric acid and ammonia f." In downright vio- 

 lation of his own arrangement, he introduces chlorate of am- 

 monia, and all the chlorates, under j)rimary compounds, such 

 as acids and oxides; and the reader seeks them in vain, among 

 the salts, his secondary compounds, to which they clearly 

 belong. Under the chapter " Chlorides" we have only chloride 

 of lime; and here we were surprised to find a commendatory 

 repetition of his former plan of analysis, after the confutation 

 it received in a late volume of the Annates dc Chiniie ct de 

 Physique. " The oxygen gas," says the Doctor, " given out, 

 (by heat,) enables us to determine very exactly, the quantity of 

 chlorine contained in the powder t." This method is worse 

 than nugatory to the bleacher; it is perfectly deceptive. For 

 a mixture of chlorate of lime and muriate of lime, will give 

 exactly the same proportion of oxygen by heat, as a genuine 

 chloride of lime, but the former mixture has no bleaching 

 power. Moreover, as the chlorine in the bleaching powder 

 is but loosely imited to the lime, a portion of it comes off by 



* Sj.irrm, II. 16'.i. 1 lUid., 11. 1. t Ib!<t., I. C41. 



