596 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1733. 



Some of the clammy water was put into a golden basin set on a lamp, and 

 by augmenting the fire gradually, in about a quarter of an hour, when all the 

 air bubbles were exhaled, the liquor became hard like gum, which had been 

 dissolved in water, and was nearly dry, and perfectly transparent: this he called 

 vitrum molle. 



Next day he made some more of this vitrum molle, which he put into a cru- 

 cible heated red hot, and then set it in a wind-furnace, and gave it the greatest 

 heat for a quarter of an hour; when the matter in the crucible appeared fluid, 

 like melted glass. He then poured it out into an iron pan; the matter re- 

 mained red hot some time; when it was perfectly cold, it was hard, transparent, 

 and brittle like common glass; but it soon began to relent, and in 24 hours 

 was almost all turned to water again. 



The Dr. said, if this vitrum molle be again entirely resolved in the air, which 

 will take up near 14 days time, by distilling oft' the water, and letting the 

 remainder melt per deliquium again, till all the saltish matter be resolved 

 into water, there remains an insipid whitish earth, which fluxed in a glass- 

 furnace, gives a true fixed glass. 



Some Experiments on the Phosphorus of Urine, which may serve to explain 

 those shown to the Royal Society by Dr. Frobenius; with Observations tend- 

 ing to explain the Nature of that wonderful Chemical Production. By Mr. 

 Ambrose Godfrey Hanckewitz,* Chemist, F. R. S. N° 428, p. 58. 

 Mr. H. repeated the experiment of the deflagration of phosphorus under a 

 bell, which had been first shown to the R. S. by Dr. Frobenius ; but he found 

 that a much more simple apparatus was sufficient, than the pompous machine 

 the Dr. used. He took a strong wide- mouthed glass jar, which serves as a 

 stand for the concave glass dish to rest on. In the middle of the glass dish is 

 a hole, communicating with a pipe, which goes down into the abovementioned 

 jar. Instead of the golden basins, a China cup a little warmed, serves per- 

 fectly as well for burning ofi^the phosphorus: the last and main thing is a large 

 glass bell, which fits nearly close on the glass dish. This bell may be easily 

 lifted off and on with the hands by an assistant, without any frame or ropes to 

 suspend it. 



He took 1 oz. of phosphorus, which he deflagrated in the same manner as 

 in Dr. Frobenius's experiment, and obtained of the white sublimed flowers lO 



• Mr. A. Godfrey Hanckewitz was once assistant to Mr. Boyle, and one of the best chemical 

 operators of his time. The above, with some experiments on ambergris, and an account of the 

 West Ashton well water, appear to be all the observations which this chemist communicated to 

 the public 



