Alum, prepared from Pyrites and Clay. 65 



the following observations : 1. That the malady in question 

 has its origin in the contact of the fecundating parts : 2. 

 That phosphorus performs a principal part in the functions 

 of reproduction. Pelletier has remarked, that phosphorus 

 is the most powerful aphrodisiac known ; analysis has 

 shown that the crystals of the human semen are phosphate 

 of lime. Phosphorous acid and phosphites would therefore 

 vitiate the spermatic liquids, which would not be restored 

 to their natural state until the phosphorous acid and the 

 phosphites, seizing oxvgen from the mercurial oxides, 

 should return to the state of phosphoric acid and of phos- 

 phates, such as they are found in the state of health. 



Note of M. VAuauELiN. 



There is no necessity that we should have recourse to 

 the presence of phosphorous acid or of phosphites in the 

 animal liquids, which is by no means proved, in order to 

 explain the reduction of the salts and oxides of mercury, 

 since almost all the animal humours produce this effect. 



Xtv Neu/ Method of preparing Alum from Pyrites and 

 Clay, By M. Lampadius, Professor of Chemistry and 

 Metallurgy at the School of Freyberg*. 



X HAD long been of opinion that the sulphuric acid vapours 

 disentraged from pyrites while burning might be applied to 

 ^ome" profitable use. In this process, as is well known, 

 when the combustion Is once begun, by applying burning 

 wood or other fuel to the pyrites, they can maintain it by 

 their own sulphur ; and a certain quantity of sulphuric acid 

 is formed, which is generally allowed to dissipate itself 

 without producing any benefit. 



In a journey which I took in 1799 to the vitriol manu- 

 factory of Brcitenbriuin, in th& district of Johann-Georgen- 

 stadt, I had the satisfaction to observe that these vapours 

 were turned to some account. The pyrites were burned in a 

 furnace of a coniral form, open at the top, and in the sides 

 of which were apertures, with pipes conducting to a large 

 square chest, filled with pyrites that had been burned and 

 lixiviated, and had thus furnished vitriol. When the py- 

 rites in the furnace are kindled, the aperture at the top is 

 closed. The pyrites still continue to burn; the vapours 



* From the Journal dcs Mines, 

 Vol. 23. No. 89- Oct. IS05. E Ji^SE 



