462 Analyses of Books. “Dee. 
proportion 55:5 to 22; but 1-98198 of dry soda produce 287044 
‘of hydrate of soda, the state in which it is probable the alkali 
exists in the stone.” dy 
' Now the nitrate of soda obtained in the first operation being 
an anhydrous salt, the quantity of alkali indicated by it is of 
dry soda, mere oxide of sodium, and not of the hydrate; so that 
in reality the results of the two processes do not agree. : 
During the process ey muriatic acid, a yellow substance 
having a bituminous sméll, was condensed on the inside of the 
silver cover of a crucible; and the alcohol which had been 
employed to separate the chloride of calcium siege of sodium, 
deposited on evaporation a dark oily substance, which had “ an 
empyreumatic smell, was insoluble in ether, but dissolved in 
spirits of turpentine, and inflamed with difficulty with a thick 
smoke, and pungent odour. Naptha dissolved it only in part, 
and changed the colour to grass-green.” 
Mr. Knox next endeavoured to obtain the bituminous matter 
of the stone in a state of purity, and to ascertain its quantity. 
In the first experiment, 480 grains of the dark leek-green 
slaty variety were strongly heated in an iron retort, to which was 
attached a bent gun-barrel, with other necessary apparatus. A 
quantity of gas came over, and when the retort had acquired a 
red-heat, some water; the heat being urged further a slightly 
coloured oily liquid appeared. The gas consisted of carbonic 
acid ; “ of hydrogen, which was judged of by its inflammation,” 
and of carburetted hydrogen, which was tested by explosion with 
oxygen gas. The receiver had gained 7-81 per cent. The oily 
fluid had the smell of tobacco, and burned with a similar flame 
to naptha. The water was neither acid nor alkaline. 
In another experiment with a glass retort, 2°83 per cent. of 
pure bitumen were obtained : in another, 100 grains of the slaty 
compact variety lost by ignition 8-0 per cent, and upon fusion 
into glass 0-5 more: 480 grains of the same were distilled after 
the water was expelled by ignition: bitumen came over, and 
after the receiver was removed, some more dropped from the 
retort: the latter had the same smell of tobacco as the former 
products; that in the receiver smelled more of naptha, and was 
volatilizable by the heat of the hand. 
One hundred yrains in mass of the Meissen pitchstone being 
ignited in a platina crucible, opened in the same manner as the 
compact variety from Newry; on fusion into enamel, it lost eight 
per cent : 400 grains being distilled after ignition yielded a small 
quantity of bitumen more volatile than any of the former, and 
having the smell of naptha. 
One hundred grains of Arran pitchstone being fused into 
glass, lost five per cent. ; 400 grains yielded on distillation some 
water, with indications of bitumen. 
Respecting the latter substance in the Newry mineral, the 
following remarks are made: “ It seems to consist of two inflam- 
