ON FLUOR MINERAL 25 



three other ounces (as exactly weighed as the former) of 

 the same acid of vitriol, diluted with 24 oz. of water, to 

 which I afterwards added lixivium tartari (liquid fixed 

 alkali) previously weighed, till I attained the exact point of 

 saturation ; then I weighed again the remaining lixivium 

 tartari, after the end of the distillation, which was continued 

 for eight hours with such a degree of heat that none of the 

 vitriolic acid was carried over ; I carefully broke the retort, 

 took out the mass, and reduced it to powder in a glass 

 mortar; it was then boiled in a glass vessel, with 24 oz. 

 of water, for some minutes; after which, I added just as 

 much lixivium tartari as I had found before to be requisite 

 for the saturation of 3 oz. of the vitriolic acid, and con- 

 tinued the boiling for a few minutes longer. When I at 

 last came to examine the solution, I found it to be perfectly 

 neutralised, neither the acid nor alkali prevailing. It was a 

 perfect vitriolated vegetable alkali (vitriolated tartar), and 

 consequently not a drop of the vitriolic acid had passed over 

 into the receiver. I afterwards lixiviated all the saline 

 matter with hot water, dried the lime, and found it to weigh 

 9 i- drms. I dissolved 2 drms. of this lime in diluted muriatic 

 acid ; there remained something which was insoluble, and 

 seemed to be undecomposed fluor ; it weighed, after being 

 dried, 9 grs. Upon one part of this solution I poured some 

 acid of sugar, which immediately produced a precipitation 

 of saccharated calcareous earth. To another part I added 

 vitriolic acid, upon which small crystals immediately pre- 

 cipitated, which were found to be vitriolated lime or gypsum. 

 The third part of the solution was evaporated to dryness, 

 whence a salt was obtained, which was deliquescent in the 

 air. The remaining part of the aerated lime being put into 

 a crucible and burned in a strong fire, I obtained a real 

 quicklime, which made with water a perfect lime-water ; and, 



