

On Sal Nitvum and Nitro- Aerial Spirit 31 



in another place that fertile earth is nothing but 

 sulphur and fixed salt both immature, in a state of 

 the closest combination, and indeed a dark purple 

 clod of earth appears not very unlike colcothar, except 

 that in the latter sulphur is combined with a metallic 

 salt but in the former with fixed salt. As then the 

 nitro-aerial spirit effervescing in a fiery motion with 

 the particles of common sulphur, or again encounter- 

 ing with more gentle heat the saUne-sulphureous 

 particles of colcothar, sharpens more quickly or more 

 slowly their saline-metallic particles and brings them 

 to a fluid condition ; so also the same nitro-aerial spirit, 

 descending in virtue of its most penetrating nature 

 into the depths of the earth, there attacks the ter- 

 restrial sulphur and fermenting with it in an obscure 

 motion rubs, attenuates, and sharpens the saline 

 particles which are firmly clasped in its bosom, so 

 that they at last became flexile, liquid^ and in the 

 highest degree acrid. The saline particles of the 

 earth when made fluid in this manner become a 

 suitable abode in which nitro-aerial particles may be 

 hidden and detained. And in my opinion the spirit 

 of nitre, of the sort obtained by distillation, is com- 

 posed of these two firmly united. 



And so at last I have endeavoured to show that 

 all acid salts are produced from saline particles 

 brought to a state of fluidity or fusion by means of 

 nitro-aerial spirit, and also how this is done. With 

 respect to the difference of acid liquids — this must be 

 supposed to result from diversity of the salts out of 

 which they are formed, as also from this, that 

 the fixed salts are rubbed and sharpened now in 

 a greater and now in a less degree by the nitro- 

 aerial spirit. And yet there is a great aflSnity and 

 likeness among all acid salts, and in them all, as in 



