15^ On Mr. Henrys Aromatic Vinegar, 



kfs oxygen than they do. It is that of all the vegetable or 

 animal acids which retains in the tulleft manner the nature 

 of the animal or vegetable iubilance from which it has been 

 formed ; it is that which is decompofed with the greateft eafe 

 by the a6lion of the fire. Preceding all the vegetable acids, 

 by ulterior and fucceflive elaborations it produces the tarta- 

 reouSj citric, oxalic, and acetous acids : it is by lofing a part 

 of its radicals, which are converted into water and carbonic 

 acid by atmoipheric oxygen, that it pafles itfclf to the ftate 

 of theie other acids ; and though none of the latter but the 

 acetous acid has yet been found in animals, there is reafon 

 to believe that all the reft will he found. 



The malic acid is then formed by living plants : it often 

 cxifts in them in its full purity: fometimes it is found in 

 them united to lime, and no doubt to potafli, according to 

 the nature of the circumftances which accompany its forma- 

 tion. It is alfo formed during the life of certain animals, 

 J»articularly in ants, and certainly in many other infe£ls : in 

 a word, it is produced by the aftion of tht nitric and the oxy- 

 genated muriatic acids on animal aiid vegetable compounds. 



Nature then, every lime it can difpofe of the neceflary 

 principles, tends to form malic acid; and tliere is no vealbn 

 to doubt, that if {.'lants were examined when very young, at 

 v.hich lime they are all acid, the malir ici j vi'ould always 

 fee found prefent in them. Thefe luccalive changes after- 

 wards give birth to the other acids already mcncioncd, and 

 which may be found by farther anaiyfcs in animals, as it has 

 been found in ve<j;etables. 



XXVII. On the Troperty which the ylcetic Acid poj/ej/es of 

 clijjol-ving Camphor and "jarious ejfaitial Oils. 



I 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



AM fenfible that an apology is neceflTary for obtrudino- 

 on you and on your readers a fal)iecl which niav appear, on 

 firlt view, to have little claim to general attention. If the 

 rights and privileges of an individual were alone involved on 

 this occafion, I Jhould not have rcquefted a place in your 

 Magazine for the following llalemcnt. But it is furelv mat- 

 ter of general concern, that the appropriation of inventions 

 and improvements fliould be dealt, with ftriftjultice, to their 

 authors: for the profpe6l of this diftribulion of " honour 

 wni.TC it is due" is one of the nioft animating principles of 

 action ; and the extinttiou of this motive would certainly fol- 

 li low 



