73 On Oil, and Oil-gas. 
the other portion corresponding to carburetted 
hydrogen. Succeeding experience however 
inclines me to believe that this last gas, as 
well as portions of hydrogen and carbonic 
oxide, constitute a part of the mixture of 
gases produced originally by the decomposi- 
tion of oil; and that the portion which is 
acted upon by oxymuriatic acid is either a 
gas hitherto not described, or a mixture of 
olefiant gas and one or two other gases that 
have not yet been characterized. 
I tried the gas, No. 1, in regard to absor- 
bability by water ; it appeared to agree near- 
ly with olefiant gas in this respect, the ab- 
sorption being much the same as would have 
resulted froma mixture of carburetted hydro- 
gen and olefiant gas in the due proportions. 
Oxygen gas expelled the mixed gases unalter- 
ed, agreeably to the known rule in such cases, 
and no change was observed in the nature of 
the gases in treating them afterwards with 
oxygen in Volta’s eudiometer, except that re- 
sulting from their difference in absorbability. 
The gas No. 2, contained 16 per cent. of 
this new gas, which for the present I shall 
call superolefiant. The gas No.3, contained 
10 per cent.; and that No. 4, contained 20 
per cent. of the same. After the superole- 
fiant gas was taken out, the residues of the 
K 
