^5 On the conjlltuent principles ofjixed Alkalies, 



particles of water in the procefs of congelation. This gives 

 an anfwer to the queflion of Dr. Dickfon, (fee Med. Repof. 

 Vol. III. p. 34.) 2. The fhivering of a tree by lightning '\i 

 caufed by heat expanding the air, &c. which it contains. 

 3. The eruption of volcanoes and earthquakes is likewife 

 produced by the expanfion of air. In a word, every explofion 

 is owing to the hidden extrication of fome matter incapable 

 of confinement, or to the expanfion of air in a refilling body. 

 I am, with much ellceni and confideration, Sij-, 

 Your moil humble fervant, 



F. BLANCHET. 

 EJJex County {N.J.), Aug. i^, 1799. 



X. Letter from Dr. Ya^ Mons, of Brujfels, to J. C. Dk . 

 LAMETHERIE, on the conJHtuent Principles qf Jixed Ah 

 ialies, &c. * 



V_>iRAANER, an apothecary at Amflerdam, has juft made 

 an experiment from which it would appear that fixed alka- 

 lies contain carbon. He introduced potafli or foda, be- 

 fprinkled with water, under a bell filled with oxygen gas. 

 The gas was abforbed, and the alkali became efiervefcent. 

 Befides this, an alkali which has been treated feveral times 

 with this gas, or which has been fuffered at feveral times to 

 become carbonated in pure air or atmofpheric air, is found 

 exhauficd of carbon, and can be carbonated no longer. This 

 faft may explain why alkalies are fo fpeedily converted into 

 alkaline carbonates even at elevations iii the atmofphere 

 which the carbonic acid never reaches. 



I long ago publifhed that potafh is formed during the com^ 

 bullion of hydro-carbon, and during the fermentation of the 

 juice of grapes, by the intervention of the azot of the atmo- 

 fphere When thcfe operations take place in pure oxygen, 

 you obtain neither potafli nor acidulous tartrite of that alkali, 

 and the wine becomes fo acid that it cannot be drunk. It 

 is poffible that fixed alkali is an azotorcarbon^ or carbon of 

 A?ot. 



« From f!u- JoumaUe. Pbjjique for Floreol, an. B, 



J, how-. 



