TABLE OF CONTENTS 



FIRST TREATISE.— ON SAL NITRUM 

 AND NITRO-AERIAL SPIRIT. 



CHAPTER I.— On Sal Nitrum. 



Air is impregnated with vital and igneous salt, p. i. The 

 history of nitre, p. i. It is composed of a purely saline salt, 

 alkaline or volatile, and of an acid salt, p. 2. But contains 

 no sulphur, p. 2. These constituents of nitre are evinced 

 by its analysis, p. 2. As also by its formation, p. 2. How- 

 nitre is produced in the earth, p. 3. The air contributes 

 something to its formation, p. 3. Nitre does not come 

 wholly, but only in part, from the air, p. 3. The alkaline 

 salt, of which nitre partly consists, comes from the earth, p. 

 4. Answer to an objection, p. 5. The seeds of the alkaline 

 salt exist in the earth, p. 5. What would seem to be the 

 macrocosmic seed of the earth, p. 5. Earth seems to be 

 composed of fixed salt and sulphur intimately united, p. 6. 



CHAPTER II.— Of the A£rial and Igneous Part 

 OF THE Spirit of Nitre. 



Whence the spirit or acid salt of nitre arises, p. 7. 

 Whether it springs from the air, p. 7. The spirit of nitre 

 does not entirely, but only in part, come from the air, p. 8. 

 Something aerial is altogether necessary for the production 

 of fire, p. 8 ; see pp. 70 and 71. The aerial pabulum of fire is 

 shown not to be the air itself, p. 9 ; see pp. 77 and 82. Nor 

 is it nitre in its totality, p. 9. Igneo-aerial particles exist 

 in nitre, p. 9. Nitre mixed with sulphur can be kindled 

 vii 



