238 A TREATISE ON THE CONNECTION OF 



disengaged, but is really fonncd in the process, in the same 

 manner as oil is procured by distillation from tmicilage or 

 ginn. 



Attempts have been made to classify manures, earths, 

 and other substances, under the term of a6live and pas- 

 sive. Lime is termed aftivc, /'. e. it is said to possess a 

 power of acting upon other substances, and of making 

 these substances produce or give out to vegetables their 

 proper food. By such theories the effects of lime are carried 

 still further, by ascribing to them the power of rendering 

 oil soluble in water. These oils are termed passive, and 

 are supposed to be contained in dung. That such oils do not 

 exist in dung, must be maintained, until a true inflammable oil 

 is procured from diuig by expression, or by some process 

 different from that of fire. What sort of oil is meant, 

 the Author is really at a loss to discover ; it cannot well 

 be supposed to resemble sallad oil, nor any oil to be had 

 from perfumers, apothecaries, nor the oil shops ! 



It is known to every well informed chemist, as well as 

 to soap-boilers, that hot lime does not produce, with ani- 

 mal fat or oil, or with the expressed oil from vegetable 



seeds 



