50 A TREATISE ON THE CONNECTION OF 



be the phosphoric and soreUne, or, as it is now generally- 

 termed, the oxalic acid, forming, according to the par- 

 ticular alkali used, phosphat and oxalat of pot-ash — 

 phosphat and oxalat of soda, or mineral alkali — phos- 

 phat and oxalat of ammoniac, or volatile alkali. 



By exsiccation, the above-mentioned extra^l (which is 

 very similar in its colour and effedls on ground to the 

 juice of dunghills) assumes the appearance of a darkish 

 brown gum, soluble at any time by the application of 

 water. Alkaline substances adl in the same manner on 

 oxygenated fossile coal, as they do on oxygenated vege- 

 table matters or peat ; forming likewise a brownish red 

 liquor, which equally promotes vegetation. The acids 

 contained in oxygenated fossile coal, in a state of combi- 

 nation with calcareous matter, will probably be found 

 to be the phosphoric acid, the acid of borax, and that of 

 sorel, or the oxalic acid. 



MAG- 



