Royal Society. 305 



which were in a short time confirmed by the observations of many. 

 Labarraque's views were formed, in Dr. G.'s opinion, on mere as- 

 sumption, and were adopted by the French and by all the English 

 translators and commentators who assisted in making his discovery 

 more generally known. No one seemed to doubt the correctness of 

 those views, until Dr. Granville, having had occasion to use very 

 extensively one of the liquids in question (that containing soda), 

 undertook the analysis of that liquid, in order to ascertain its real 

 composition, and he entered upon an inquiry into the phaenomena 

 resulting from the action of chlorine on animal matter in a putrid 

 state. The results of these inquiries Dr. Granville has detailed at 

 full length, in his paper in which a series of experiments is minutely 

 described, from which the author conceives he has proved, that the 

 supposed '* chloride of oxide of sodium " in solution is in reality a 

 mixture of 



73"5.S dry chloride of sodium 



26'47 neutral chlorate of soda 



10000 

 with an excess of chlorine equal to twice the bulk of the water 

 employed in preparing the liquid agreeably to Labarraque's own 

 formula. 



Besides detailing the several analytical and synthetical experi- 

 ments in support of the above conclusions. Dr. Granville attempts 

 to prove the accuracy of those conclusions by the application of 

 the atomic doctrine, as well as by a calculation of the weight and 

 measure of the chlorine gas required to form the disinfecting li- 

 quid ; whence it appears that during the process of preparing that 

 liquid five atoms of oxygen combine with one atom of chlorine to 

 form chloric acid, which unites with one atom of soda to form the 

 chlorate of soda; and five atoms of sodium combine with five 

 atoms of chlorine to form five integrant atoms of chloride of so- 

 dium. These combinations are not due to the decomposition of 

 water but to a peculiar arrangement of the elements contained in 

 the solution. With regard to the quantity of chlorine gas employed, 

 it appears to be very considerable. Twenty fluid ounces of the 

 liquid contain 50336 cubic inches of that gas (besides the free 

 chlorine), which weigh, according to Thomson's tables, 383-81.5 

 grains; and as the soda dissolved in those twenty ounces of liquid 

 weighs 341 "185 grains ; according to the atomic theory, the weight 

 of the solid contents of that quantity of liquid ought to amount to 

 725 grains; which is precisely what Dr. Granville found on eva- 

 porating the whole of the liquid to dryness. If this be the real com- 

 position of Labarraque's liquid, it is clear that no such compound 

 as the chloride of oxide of sodium exists in it, and its present de- 

 nomination must be incorrect; Dr. Granville therefore recom- 

 mends that it should be abolished, and that the simple nanie of 

 Disinfecting liquid of soda should be substituted for it. 



In anotlicrpart of his paper the author endeavours to show that the 

 singular properties of the above liquid are dueentirely to the chlorine. 



New Series. Vol. 1. No. 4. A2)yil 1827. 2 R and 



