‘On the Procefs of Bleaching, Se. 293 
he tranfmuted earths; and that with calcareous earth he 
can make, at pleafure, confiderable quantities of magnefia. 
He declares that to his labours on phofphorus he is indebted. 
for proeeffes by which he effects the diffipation (op>re la 
frite) of rubies, the fufion of emeralds, and ‘the vitrification 
of mercury. 
[We need hardly add, that Englifh pratitioners will ufe 
their wonted caution in the application of fo powerful a 
remedy. | 
—— 
XII. On the Procefs of Bleaching with the oxygenated mn- 
riatic Acid; and a Defcription of a new Apparatus for 
bleaching Cloths with that Acid diffolved in Water, with- 
out the Addition of Alkali. By THEOPHILUS LEWIS 
Rupp, Efy. From Memoirs of the Literary and Philo- 
fophical Society of Manchefter, Yol. V. 1798. 
For the difcovery of the oxygenated muriatic acid, its’ 
effe&ts on colouring matter, and its ineftimable advantages, 
the arts are indebted to the juftly-celebrated Scheele. M. 
Berthollet loft no time in applying the properties of this cu- 
rious and highly interefting fubftance to the moft important 
practical ufes. His experiments on bleaching with the oxy- 
genated muriatic acid proved completely fuccefsful, and he 
did not delay to communicate his valuable labours to the 
public. The new method of bleaching was quickly and 
fuccefsfully introduced into the manufa@ures of Manchefier, 
Giafgow, Rouen, Valenciennes, and Courtray; and it has 
fince been generally adopted in Great Britain, Ireland, 
France, and Getmany. The advantages which refult from 
this method, which accelerates the procefs of whitening 
cottons, linens, paper, &c. toa really furprifing degree, in 
every feafon of the year, can be juftly appreciated by com- 
mercial people only, who experience its beneficial effects in 
U3 many 
