446 On file Comlinalion of Adds, &c. 



much acid as to be soluble in alkalis, and to form with 

 thc(T! muriates. 



'I'htis we have exannncd five vegetable matters, and six 

 animal malters, capable of an iniiinate onion with acids. 

 Three of the former, viz. alcohol, essential oil of turpen- 

 tine, and a substance abounding in carbon, and produced 

 from alcohol decomposed by oxy-muriatie acid, neutralize 

 acids equally as well as the sironirest alkalis. The last seven 

 form with ihcse ^cids combinations, which are themselves 

 acid, hkc the metallic and most f)f the earthy salts. 



Without doubt we shall in time be aide to combine all 

 other vetreiable and animal substances with acids, and the 

 experiments rel.tied allow even at present the inference to 

 be drawn: for, if the combination cannot be made directly, 

 no proof appears in this agaitist what I advaiKC. Does not 

 alcohol, which in its ordinary stale has not the property of 

 jieutralii-ing the vegetable acids, acquire it by the pre- 

 sence of a mineral acid ? When these substances are placed 

 in different circumstances, probably, the one best adapted 

 to unite them with the acids will be found. These re- 

 searches are laborious indeed ; but they arc useful and im- 

 portant, as tending to introduce us to the knowledge of a 

 long compound series of a particular order; a knowledge 

 which in itself nmst throw great liyht upon the analysis of 

 vegetable and animal substances. In fact, is it not possible 

 that we m-iy find in nrgsnic bodies compounds of this 

 kind? Are not jrallnuls an example? Is it not possible that 

 acetic acid, which we procure by the distdlation of animal 

 and vegetable substances, tnay be contained ready formed 

 in some? Amber in jiarticular, from which v.-e get by distil- 

 lation succinic acid, is it formed of an oily matter com- 

 bined with -nccinic acid ? The fatty substances which af- 

 ford us scbacic acid,N nuy they not also be in similar cir- 

 cumstances ? Lastly, the bitter principle formed by treat- 

 ing animal substances with nitric acid, which acts as a very 

 oxygenated body, although not acid ; and the yellow acid, 

 which, according to MM. Fourcroy and Vauquelin, iis 

 formed in the same operation, mav they iu)l be intimate 

 combinatii^ns of an acid and of another matter ? But it is 

 iibove all th.ngs necessary, in the exj)larir.tion of phaeno- 

 niena whicii pass beiore us, in the decomposition of ve- 

 getable and animal substances bv acids, that a strict ac- 

 count should be kept of their tendency to unite with these 

 bodies. 



Thus vvc pwccivc that this genera! principle is su?crpiiblG 



of 



