Experiments on the Gas from Coal. 425 
other compound of those two elements has 
been hitherto proved to exist. 
2dly. It is inconsistent with experience, 
that two bodies which, like hydrogen and 
charcoal, unite by anenergetic affinity, should 
combine in all possible proportions. On the 
contrary, it is to be expected from analogy in 
general, and from that of the compounds of 
charcoal and oxygen in particular, that hy- 
drogen and charcoal unite in few propor- 
tions only, and in such a manner that these 
proportions are multiples or divisors of each 
other by some entire number. 
3dly. All the phenomena may be satisfac- 
torily explained by supposing the gas from 
coal, and from other inflammable substances, 
to be mixtures of this kind. For example, 
referring to the one hour’s gas in the first 
table, we shall find that it contains, in 100 
measures, 18 of olefiant gas, which require 
for combustion 54 measures of oxygen, and 
afford 36 of carbonic acid. The same gas 
contains also 773 measures of another inflam- 
mable gas, in the combustion of which 210— 
54=156 measures of oxygen have been spent, 
and which have afforded 112—36=76 mea- 
sures of carbonic acid. This is as near an 
approach as can be expec.ed to the pro- 
perties of carburetted hydrogen, the 774 
VOL. II. uhh 
