WITH THE MARINE ACID. *2i 



Tiic following words of the celebrated author 

 fecm to have fome reference to this particular 

 art : " Tan-Jem fieri potcll idem (mcrcurius) 

 <l corrofivus, fi fpiritu falls difiblutus itcrumquc 

 " coagulatus, Cucurbits inditus fublimatur." 

 Margraaf has demonftratcd, that many metallic 

 precipitates are ibluble in thofc acids, which 

 have no effect upon perfccl mctuh *. And 

 long ago it was ailcrtcd by Stahl, that Mercu- 

 ry precipitated from aqua fortis, by a lixivial 

 fait, could be dillolved in the muriatic acid. On 

 the credit of Junker, Stahl is find likewifc to 

 have declared, that tin's lail folution was not in 

 the leail difturbed by the addition of an alka- 

 Ime fait; which if added to a folution of corro- 

 iive fublimate would have produced confidera- 

 ble efled. I am at a lofs to conceive by what 

 accident u circuniftnncc founufual (liould occur 

 in the experiments of Stahl. As often as I have 

 repeated them my fclf, I have always obferved 

 a very diilerent rcfult ; even \vhcn the acid was 

 in excels; although a paler powder was then 

 precipitated. From theie accounts, however, it is 

 manifert, that it has not been hitherto doubted 

 \\hether currofive mercurial fublimate could be 

 prepared without lire ; the -faith of experience, 

 however, was wan ring to cdablifli the truth of 

 what as yet relied only on conjecture. Great 

 praifc, therefore, is due to the diligence of Mo- 

 X net, 



* Mem. dcTAcaU. dc Berlin, 1476. 



