1819.] Dr. Vest on Vestium. 355 
resembled vestium. The green ammoniacal ley being’ neutralized 
with sulphuric acid and evaporated, let fall, besides nickel crys-. 
tals, flocks of vestium.’ As these appeared after the solution 
had stood some days, I conceive it to be the vestium and not the 
oxide of iron which changes the blue colour of an ammoniacal 
solution of nickel into green; for the iron separates itself much 
sooner. 
6. Method of determining the Presence of Vestium in Ores. 
We can determine the presence of vestium in ores three 
different ways. 
1. The ore fused into a regulus is to be dissolved in nitro- 
muriatic acid, and the arsenic separated by the process above 
described. Decompose the solution freed from arsenic by caus- 
tic ammonia not in a state of too great concentration, and after 
filtering, add to the liquid carbonate of potash. If vestium be 
present, it separates altogether in the state ofa white precipitate. 
2. Or the ammoniacal solution may be decomposed by oxalate 
of potash, which throws down the vestium. If, on the other 
hand, carbonate of ammonia be poured into the solution, the 
vestium is not precipitated. 
3. Or without freeing the muriatic solution from arsenic, we 
may pass a stream of sulphuretted hydrogen gas through it as 
long as a precipitate continues to fall. This precipitate being 
collected and heated is very easily reduced into the metallic 
state. Dissolve the regulus in nitric acid, and treat the solution 
in the way above described ; or the metal may be thrown down 
by carbonate of potash, the precipitate be redissolved in sul- 
huric acid, decomposed by ammonia or potash, and evaporated. 
n short, we must proceed as in the preparation of vestium above 
described. 
ite 
Appendix by the Editor.—It is evident from the preceding 
paper, that Dr. Vest has never obtained his new metal free from 
arsenic, nickel, and cobalt. Hence the experiments of Mr. 
Faraday and Dr. Wollaston (Royal Institution Journal, vi. 112) 
cannot be considered as sufficient to invalidate the existence of 
the substance called vestium by Dr. Vest. If his account of 
that substance be accurate, of which it will not be in our power 
to judge till the nickel ore of Schladming is examined by some 
other person, it is obviously different from every other metal 
with nich we are at preseut acquainted. 
42 
