344 Carbonic Oxide Gas. 
Art. X.—Carbonic oxide gas, obtained free of carbonic acid ; by 
~ Tomas D. Mircuett, M. D. Professor of ae a and Phar- 
macy in the Medical College val Ohio. 
It will be sadly conceded, that a process, by which a difficulty 
can be avoided entirely, will be more acceptable to the practical 
chemist, than one, however ingenious, that instructs him how to get 
rid of that difficulty, after it has occurred. Several foreign writers 
have recently proposed methods, for ridding carbonic oxide of car- 
bonic acid; and in’a late number of the American Journal, conduet- 
ed by Professor Silliman, I find a communication from Professor 
‘Hare, on this point. He has furnished a drawing of his apparatus, 
intended to accomplish the object in view, with such explanations, as 
he supposed necessary. It is obvious however, that if such an ex- 
pedient were at all requisite, many persons would fail in its construc- 
tion, by the aid of the description and drawing alone; for although 
‘it may be perfectly plain to thé inventor, it will not follow; that others 
may easily imitate him. 
The plan which I adopted i is very simple and oocteesly successful. 
I was led to its use, not because I supposed the formation of carbonic 
acid would be obviated, but because 1 had found considerable diffi- 
culty by other processes. It was my design to have employed the 
super or bin-oxalate of potash, as recommended by Dumas, and in 
that case, it would have been necessary to have washed the product 
with lime water. Fortunately, however, my bottle containing that 
article was mislaid, and, in its place, I substituted the oxalate of Am- 
monia, uncertain what would be the precise result. My first notice of 
this experiment, is contained in the Western Medical Gazette for Jan- 
uary 15th of: the present year, but as I have had opportunities since 
that date of confirming the views then entertained, I think it may 
not be unacceptable to chemical teachers, to give the subject a brief 
notice, through the medium of a journal that has a wider circulation. 
I repeat then, that I have’ obtained the carbonic oxide, of an €x- 
cellent quality, independently of the use of lime water, or any other 
agent, for the purpose of detaching carbonic acid, by the action of 
sulphuric acid on the oxalate of ammonia. Take an ounce of the 
oxalate, reduced to powder, and a drachm or two of sulphuric acid, 
and put them into a six-ounce tubulated retort, and apply a very gen- 
tle lamp heat. In a few minutes, large quantities of gas are evolved, 
