X^6 Ohfervatlons on Ants, 



communicated by Baron D'Holbach ; he made at the fame 

 time fome reflexions on the nature of the poifon of ants, rc- 

 fpe6ling which he would not venture to give a decifive opi- 

 nion. This prudent modelty in an able chemift may ferve 

 us as a lefTon. 



MefTrs. Ardwiflbn and Oerhne have alfo made a number 

 of curious experiments on this acid, which they confider as a 

 peculiar kind. It has been admitted into the new chemiftr)' 

 under the name of the formicine : it is ftronger than the vi- 

 triolic acid *, ferves for different combinations, and an ether 

 may be obtained from it. M. Thouvenel, who prepared from 

 it the formiate of potafh, experienced the fame effecls from 

 the volatile acid of ants as M. Roux ; for, after having col- 

 le6led fome of thefe infefts, large veficles full of ferous liquor 

 were formed at the ends of his fingers. This learned chemifl: 

 made many experiments to afcertain the nature of the acid of 

 ants, and they all convinced him that it differs from the mi- 

 neral acids as well as from fermented vegetable acid, and that 

 it has every chemical relation to the microcofmic acid f, &c. 



M. Cadet junior, and other chemills, found that the vola- 

 tile alkali deftroys ants and neutralifcs their acid. This, 

 therefore, may afford the means of being preferved from it, 

 or of checking its aftion on the fkin. Ohve oil produces the 

 fame effe6l. 



Medicine might perhaps derive more advantage than it has 

 hitherto done from the volatile fpirit and oil of ants. A bath 

 of ants has been prefcribed in cafes of the palfy. The water 

 or fpirit of magnanimity, and other pharmaceutic compofi- 

 tions, are prepared from ants and their produfts. They 

 Slight certainly be employed in veficatories. 



To the above obfervations I (liall add the following faft, 

 recorded in the Ephemerides of the curious of Nature for the 

 year 1688 J, which will prove thg efficacy of ants as a re- 

 vulfive remedy : — A fuller, who had been long tormented 

 ^A•ith a pain i;i his head, and tired of taking medicines with- 



" The autlio", no doubt, means that it will decompofe forrn; of the vi- 

 triolic falts : in this fcufe many vegetable acids are llrMii^er than the vi. 

 r?ivilic. — lioiT. 



t Piiofphonc ac'd. t Dec. 2, obj. So. 



put 



