COMPOUND OF SULPHUR AND PHOSPHORUS. 7 



phur be introduced into a metallic fpoon, and then inimerfed 

 in a bottle filled with oxigenized muriatic acid gas; the com- 

 pound inftantly kindles and burns with great vividnefs. The 

 refults of this experiment of courfe are phofphoric, fulphuric, 

 and muriatic acids. 



Phofphuret of fulphur, when in aftate of inflammation burns When already 

 alfo in nitrous gas, and in gafeous oxide of nitrogen. dnu« to burn?n 



If a piece of cotton be impregnated with phofphuret of ful- nitrous gas and 



phur, and then furrounded with wool or tow, and placed un-'^.^^*^ nitrous 



der the receiver of an air-pump, the compound thines with a Combuftioa in 



beautiful yellow light, which increafes in proportion as the air '^* pneumatic 



r , ^ 1 • • r II • r • vacuum IS very 



5S more rarefied. On re-admittmg a Imall portion or air, a advancageoufly 



beautiful Corona or Aurora Borealis pervades the receiver. If performed on 

 a thermometer be included into the cotton containing the phof- '* '^*""P° 

 phuret of fulphur, it rifes in proportion as the light increafes, 

 and in this refpe6t, as well as in the former, the phofphuret of 

 fulphur anfwers better for this experiment, which was firft no- 

 ticed by Van Marum, who made ufe of phofphorus. 



The formation of phofphuret of fulphur feems not to be at- No heat is de- 

 tended with any change of temperature, as is faid to be always the°combinadon 

 the cafe in all chemical combinations whatever. For if the of phofphorus 

 phofphorus and fulphur be immerfed in heated water, at a dif.^^jg|^^ "' " 

 tance from each other, together with a thermometer, no in- 

 creafe or decreafe of temperature could be obferved by means 

 of the mofl delicate inftrument. The compound of phofpho-I'^'S'"°^^Po>- 

 rus and fulphur a6ls more violently in deftroying animal life, p°ho°fphorus. 

 than phofphorus alone. A cat which had eaten two grains of 

 phofphorus repeatedly without impunity, died within half an 

 hour after having fwallowed one grain of phofphuret pf ful- 

 phur. 



Old Compton-Street, Soho^ 

 Jugufi 16, 1803, 



II. Objhrvations 



