124 0;r a new fuhmvat'wg Mercurj'. 



moft of my apparatus deftroyed. A quantity, moreover, of 

 the gas I had previouflv prepared, was loft by the inadvert- 

 ency of a perfon who went into my laboratory, whilil I was 

 confined by the confequences of this difcouraging accident. 

 But, Ihould any one be defirous of giving the gas a further 

 examination, I again repeat, that as far as I am enabled to 

 }udge, it may with fafety be prepared, by pouring three dram* 

 of fulphuric acid, diluted with the fame quantity of water, 

 upon 50 grains of the powder, and then applying the flame 

 of a candle until gas begins to be extrjcatcd. The only at- 

 tempt I have made to decompofe it, was by expofing it to 

 copper and ammoniac ; which, during feveral weeks, did not 

 effeft the lea ft alteration. 



Section XVII. 

 T will now conclude, by obferving, that the fulminating 

 mercury feems to be chara6terifed by the following pro- 

 perties : 



It takes fire at the temperature of 368 Fahrenheit; ex- 

 plodes by fridion *, by flint and fteel, and by being thrown 

 into concentrate fulphuric acid. It is equally inflammable 

 under the exhaufted receiver of an air-pump, as furrounded 

 by atmofphcric air; and it detonates loudly, both by the 

 blow of a hammer, and by a ftrong eleftrical ftiock. 



Notwithftanding the compofition of fulminating filver, and 

 of fulminating gold, difler eflfentially from that of fulminating 

 inercurv, all three have fome fimilar qualities. In tremendous 

 cfleiSls, filvcr undoubtedly ftands firft, and gold perhaps the 

 !aft. The cfl'ei5ls of the mercurial powder and of gunpowder 

 admit of little comp-arifon. The one exerts, within certain 

 limits, an almoft inconceivable force : its agents feem to be 

 oas and caloric, very fuddcnly fet at liberty, and both mer- 

 cury and water thrown into vapour. The other difplays a 

 more extended but inferior power : gas and caloric are, com- 

 paratively fpeaking, liberated by degrees; and water, accord- 

 ing to Count Ruinford, is thrown into vapour f. 



Hence 



* Con'cquen'ly it flould not '■e inrlofcd in a bottle with a glafs flopper. 

 ■•• Stc r..ilo'>phical 'ririurafliorii fvr [he year 179;, p jjj. 



