340 Dana on Nitrous Gas. 
tion of nitrous acid. The latest chymical publication, Ure’s 
Dictionary of Chymistry, 2d edition, Lond. 1823, gives the 
saine theory of its action. To shew the explanation of the 
effect of nitrous gas in eudiometry, as given by chymical 
- authors, I will quote a passage from this dictionary ; and 
do this because the editor is not less remarkable for sound 
criticism, than for fulsome flattery of Davy, for cavalier 
treatment of Thompson, and for total silence respecting the 
labors of the chymists in this country. 
“* Nitric acid is composed of 100 parts of azote and 200 
of oxygene, or of 100 oxygene and 200 of nitrous gas 
= (100 o.+100 az.) Nitrous vapour, or more properly 
speaking nitrous aci@ gas results from the combination of 
) 
f 300 of nitrous gas, united with 100 oxygene, produce 3 
diminution, by absorption, of 400, it is evident that it can- 
not be by the production of nitrous acid ; because, (since 
nitrous gas contains one half its volume of oxygene,) the 
nitrous acid so formed would consist of 150 azote-+ 250 
oxygene ; a relative proportion of the two substances which 
*Ia this edition of Ure's Dictionary no notice is taken of the New Gal 
vanic Instruments of Hare, or of the splendid results. obtained by them 18 
the hands of Silliman; nor is justice done to our countrymen peepe > . 
the oxy. owpipe: the Editor of the Dictionary canoe! > 
supposed to be ignorant of these subjects, and-a silence respecting them, is 
at once uncandid, disrespectful, and disgusting, 
