394- 



rated ; and it may always be made to explode by the heat of the 

 hand, with instantaneous extrication of heat and light. After ex- 

 plosion the gas is found to occupy about one sixth part more bulk 

 than before. From the gas so exploded, oxymuriatic gas may be 

 absorbed by water, and there remains about one third part of 

 oxygen. 



When copper, or antimony, or mercury, or iron, are exposed to 

 this gas, it has no action upon them till heat is applied ; but then they 

 burn with a very brilliant light, and generally with explosion. But 

 charcoal, which has no affinity with oxymuriatic gas, burns only with 

 a dull red light, by union with the diluted oxygen. 



Arsenic was acted upon without the application of heat. After a 

 short time it caused an explosion, and united with the oxymuriatic 

 gas. Sulphur caused instant explosion, but was not burned. 



Phosphorus caused explosion with brilliant light ; and uniting with 

 both constituents, formed phosphoric acid, and solid oxymuriate of 

 phosphorus. 



When the gas was mixed with muriatic gas, a gradual diminution 

 of volume took place ; oxymuriatic gas was formed, and dew depo- 

 sited on the sides of the vessel. 



These experiments, says Mr. Davy, enable us to explain the con- 

 tradictory accounts that have been given of the properties of oxy- 

 muriatic gas, which have been confounded with those of the ex- 

 plosive compound. That the latter has not been collected before, is 

 principally owing to its being absorbed by water, which has generally 

 been used for receiving the products from hyperoxymuriate of potash; 

 aud since water absorbs about ten times its bulk of this gas, nothing 

 could be received in the form of gas but the oxymuriatic, till the 

 water became completely saturated. 



The violent explosion, accompanied with heat and light, which is 

 in this instance produced during the separation and expansion of two 

 gases, says Mr. Davy, is a perfectly novel circumstance in chemical 

 philosophy ; but he sees nothing in the properties of this gas which 

 is at variance with the conclusions he has before drawn, as to the 

 undecompounded nature of oxymuriatic gas. The weakness of the 

 affinity, with which the constituents are united in it, is, on the con- 

 trary, perfectly conformable to the supposition of their belonging to 

 the same class of bodies, and to the idea of their being distinct, 

 though analogous species of matter. 



Experiments to prove that Fluids pass directly from the Stomach to the 

 Circulation of the Blood, and from thence into the Cells of the Spleen, 

 the Gall Bladder, and Urinary Bladder, without going through the 

 Thoracic Duct. By Everard Home, Esq. F.R.S. Read January 31, 

 1811. [Phil. Trans. 1811, p. 163.] 



Mr. Home having formerly found that fluids pass from the stomach 

 into the circulation of the blood without going through the thoracic 

 duct, had maintained the spleen to be the channel by which they are 



