On the conjl'ituent Parts of Azot. 35 1 



different properties from thofe they would have were thev 

 combined with the two fimple principles of which azot \i 

 compofed. Azot, as a conftituent principle of bodies, is not 

 hydrogen and oxygen, but azot; in the fame manner as foap 

 is not oil and alkali, but foap. Of this obfervation we ought 

 never to lofe fight. 



In feveral experiments I have obferved that fulphur often 

 exhibits a yellow or yellowifh orange colour. We fliall fel- 

 dom be deceived if we fufpeft the exiftence of fulphur in all 

 bodies which exhibit that colour. Bodies which contain 

 carbon are black, brown, or violet. Azot announces itfelf 

 by a green colour : ftunted plants, which vegetate flieltered 

 Irom the air and light, are white, and contain very little azot : 

 if expofed to thefe two agents for fonie days, they alfume a 

 green colour, and the proportion of azot in their compofition 

 is much more confiderable. When nitrat of potafli is fufud 

 in a glafs retort, and the oxygen gas is difengaged from it, one 

 may obferve at the end of the operation, when the azot is 

 formed, that is to fay, when the oxygen has a greater affiniiy 

 to the hydrogen than to the caloric, that the green colour 

 appears, and the difengagement of oxygen gas ceafes entirely. 



But what requires the attention of all philofophcrs is, that 

 when water is expofed to the fun the light decompofes it, 

 and difengages the oxygen in a large quantity. The hydrogen 

 then retains the laft portions of the oxygen; azot is formed, 

 and announces itfelf by its green colour ; the water is more 

 and more decompofed ; more of the oxygen (which I have 

 demonllrated to be the principle of life and irritability in or- 

 ganifcd nature) becomes fixed ; and this azot, produced from 

 water by means of the fun, is an organifed body, the con- 

 ferva fontivalis ; a plant which lives, expands, and perpe- 

 tuates its fpecies. Thefe are the boundaries at which the 

 philofopher ought to ftop ; it is here that he ought to admire 

 and refpeft the fecrets of Nature, without knowing whether 

 he will ever be allowed to penetrate the veil by which they 

 are hid. What is certain, and what I have afTurcd myfclf of 

 by a great nunjber of experiments, with which I have been 

 occupied every fummer for more than twelve years, is, that 

 Jhc influence of the foLir light is abfolutely nccefTary for this 



5 convcrfion 



