On Sal Nitviim. and Nitro- Aerial Spirit 41 



closely united with nitrous salt that they are not 

 separated from each other by calcination ; but the 

 burning sulphureous particles carry the nitrous par- 

 ticles away with them as vapours. And hence it is 

 that plants of this sort yield only a small quantity 

 of fixed salt, as is the case with resinous woods, such 

 as Lignum sanctum and the like. 



Nor should it be overlooked that the nitre innate 

 in plants contributes not a little to their burning, and 

 that those which abound the most in nitrous par- 

 ticles take fire at once, even when they are green 

 and full of moisture. Among these the ash is espe- 

 cially remarkable, for be it ever so green it yet burns 

 with a bright flame. But, indeed, its richness in nitre 

 may be inferred from the fact that while burning 

 it gives out, from time to time, cracks like kindled 

 nitre. 



Thus far, we have considered the fermentation 

 tending to the production of plants. We have still 

 to inquire shortly as to the internal motion by which 

 plants rush to their destruction. 



In regard to this, it is our opinion that the fer- 

 mentation which tends to the destruction of plants is 

 also caused by the mutual agitation of the nitro-aerial 

 and saline-sulphureous particles — with this distinction, 

 however, that in the origin of vegetables, nitro-aerial 

 spirit, when put in vigorous movement, attacks sul- 

 phur existing in a fixed state, and when the sulphur 

 has been brought to volatility, the nitro-aerial spirit 

 is fixed, imprisoned in saline bonds, as has been shown 

 above. But, on the other hand, in the destruction 

 of things, the internal movement is for the most part 

 set up by the sulphur being too highly exalted. In 

 fact, the sulphureous particles in a state of too vigorous 

 movement attack the nitro-aerial spirit when lying 



