Vrocefs for refohlng Minerals by Allalie's. 249 



For fome time paft, however, this method of keeping tha 

 mafs in a ftate of ignition has appeared to me objetlionable ; 

 and for the following reafons : 



I ft, It happens not unfrequently that the mafs itfelf is 

 really fufed, by which means the foftening it afterwards by 

 water is rendered much more difficult. 



2d, By the leaft accident in regard to the proper manage*- 

 ment of the fire, there will be great danger of the crucible 

 itfelf being fufed. 



3d, If the chemift, by purfuing the above procefs, dif- 

 covers in any foffil a new earth or metal, it is often objefted 

 to him by other chemifts, that the objed of his fuppofed dif- 

 covery may be nothing elfe than a produA of fome peculiar 

 modifications of the component parts of the foffil fubje6led to 

 examination, effefted by the a6lion of caloric. 



4th, As it is an acknowledged truth, eftablifhed from a 

 comparative view, that the wet way deferves, in many re- 

 fpefts, to be preferred to the dry way, it muft be highly 

 unpleafant on all occafions, efpecially in the commencement 

 of the analyfis of a mineral body, to be obliged to proceed 

 in the dry way. 



On this account, therefore, I refolved to make fome expe- 

 riments on the refolution of foffils in the wet way ; and the 

 refult exceeded my expcftation; as I was able to perform 

 this operation (which hitherto, orl account of the ftrong fire 

 requifite for the purpofe, was obliged to be performed in a 

 laboratory, or, at leaft, under a chimney,) not only by the 

 help of the weak flame of a very liiT.ple fpirit-of-wine lamp, 

 but alfo in a more convenient, more nerfeiS', and much more 

 certain manner than ever was effcGcd in the dry way. 



My whole apparatus for this purpofe. and which may be 

 carried in the pocket, is as follows : 



I ft, A fmall cylindric furnace for placing the lamp in, 

 four inches high and three in diameter, made of tin-plate, 

 furniftied with a door, and with draught-holes at the upper 

 edge. The cover, which fits clofely to it, has a round hole 

 in the middle capable of admitting the crucible. This Lole, 

 to prevent the crucible from falling through, muft have a 

 fmall rim bent inwards. 



V^)L. VII, Kk ad, A 



