VOL. LXX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. ' (jgg 



Exper. 23, 24. A saponaceous compound was also obtained by adding to the 

 rectified oil spirit of sal ammoniac, prepared with quick lime. The result was 

 the same when the oil of exper. 1 1 was employed. 



Exper. lb, 26. But this rectified oil would not form a soap with the crystal- 

 lized volatile alkali. The attempt was equally unsuccessful when made with the 

 salt previously dissolved in a very small quantity of water. 



Exper. 17, 28, ig, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37. In these experiments the 

 rectified oil was subjected to the action of the vitriolic, nitrous, muriatic, and acetic 

 (Sp. Veneris) acids. The action of the vitriolic, muriatic, and acetic acids did not 

 exhibit any thing that requires particular notice; but when the nitrous acid, exp. 

 31, 32, 33, was added to the oil obtained in exp. 10, a smoke and coagulation 

 followed, with a precipitation of some particles, which appeared to be of a carbona- 

 ceous nature. The liquor being poured off, this precipitate was found to be solu- 

 ble in water, to which it communicated a straw-colour, and a bitter taste. On 

 evaporating this solution, a yellow concrete was obtained, of a lamellated saline 

 appearance. It was soluble in sp. of wine, to which it imparted a gold-colour. 

 On adding salt of tartar to the aqueous solution, no separation of the oil ensued. 

 Exper. 38. Dr. C. next proceeded toexamine the coally residuum collected 

 after the distillation of the oil. This he found it extremely difficult to incine- 

 rate; but by subjecting it to a very strong heat in a wind-furnace, he at length 

 succeeded in reducing it to ashes. The weight of the coally residuum operated 

 on was 2 oz., that of the ashes obtained from it 3 dr. 



Exper. 3g. To the ashes obtained in exper. 38, which were of a reddish co- 

 lour. Dr. C. added 2 oz. of distilled water. The mixture was then digested in a 

 gentle heat, and afterwards filtrated. The water had a saline taste; but on eva- 

 porating it till a cuticle formed on the surface, no crystals appeared; but conti- 

 nuing the evaporation to dryness, he obtained 4 1 gr. of a salt, which was of no 

 determinate figure, but had a very peculiar taste; it did not deliquesce on expo- 

 sure to the air. 



Exper. 40. Vitriolic acid being added to the aqueous solution of this salt, a 

 precipitation of white grains or molecules took place. 



Exper. 41. Having separated this precipitate from the liquor by filtration, and 

 having dried it. Dr. C. found it to be a white salt of an acid taste, which being 

 subjected to the blow-pipe melted into a transparent glass. This he afterwards 

 converted into phosphorus by the usual process. 



Exper. 42. To ascertain whether the red colour of the ashes was owing to the 

 presence of iron, Dr. C. digested the ashes deprived of their salt, exper. 3g, in 

 aquafortis, for 24 hours; but on adding some drops of the aquafortis so digested, 

 to an infusion of gall-nuts, no purple or black colour was produced. Hence he 

 infers that the red colour of the ashes is not derived from iron. 



