172 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
changed; heated with thrice its volume of sulphuric acid, it 
blackens, swells, and liberates a small quantity of inflammable 
gas, which burns with a pale flame, is not condensed by chlorine, 
and appears to be.a mixture of proto-carburetted hydrogen 
and hydrogen. When distilled with its volume of nitric acid nitrous 
vapours arise, and an ethereal liquid distils over, which when 
distilled from oxide of lead, reddens litmus, has an agreeable 
odour, burns with a strong greyish flame, dissolves in water and 
alcohol, communicating a sweet mild taste, and in all its pro- 
perties quite unlike nitric ether. A current of nitrous gas passed 
into a portion of the pyroligneous fluid effected no change in it. 
Muriatic acid produced no effect upon it. 
A current of chlorine passed into the fluid, made it of a deep 
yellow colour, but continuing the current a few minutes, the colour 
on asudden disappeared, six parts of the fluid had thus increased 
to six parts and a half, of a colourless transparent liquid, fuming 
by ammonia, having a poignant odour, and exciting tears. It 
burnt with a blue flame, producing abundant fumes of muriatic 
acid, and an odour resembling horseradish. When distilled from 
litharge, it passed over less acid, but otherwise unchanged. _ Its 
specific gravity was 0.889; it was soluble in water and alcohol, 
communicating a strong taste of horseradish. It precipitated ni- 
trate of silver, and became more acid by exposure to air and 
light. This compound as well as that produced by the action of 
nitric acid, appears to be an ether, having particular properties ; 
and these ethers prove that the pyroligneous fluid is in its relation 
to acids analogous to alcohol. 
MM. Macaire and Marcet then prepared some of the pyro- 
acetic spirit described by Chenevix, and instituted comparative ex- 
periments on it, and Taylor’s fluid. The pyroacetic spirit is 
lighter than the pyroligneous fluid, being according to Chenevix of 
specific gravity 0.786, Its taste and smell are different. It burns 
with a strong white flame, and is quite soluble in oil of turpen- 
tine. Sulphuric acid does not trouble or blacken it, but produces 
a fine yellow red colour, and the fluid remains transparent until 
heated. Distilled with muriatic acid, a volatile fluid passes, and 
a black substance remains ; distilled on potash the fluid loses its 
acid odour, and the residue smells like tar. Chlorine passed into 
the pyroacetic spirit, rendered it of a slight yellow colour. The 
fluid resulting had a strong suffocating smell, resembling that of 
the substance obtained by treating the pyroligneous fluid in the 
same way, but after a time it separated into two portions, the 
one thick, oily, heavy, and transparent, the other light, and 
slightly opalescent. The latter burnt with a light blue flame, 
being an acid residue. It is soluble in water, communicating a 
hot taste to it, but not like horseradish. The oily fluid burnt 
