23S ON THE FOUL AIR OF OIL CISTERNS. 



It is inferred we not from this experiment be fufficiently authorized to 



frorathcw'id! conclude, that muriatic acid is compofed of oxigen and 



hidrogen, and that hidrogen gas is liberated in confequence 



of part of the oxigen of the acid uniting to the metal to 



predifpofe it to unite to the remaining acid ? 



It is to be remarked, that tlie hidrogen gas was liberated 

 in fuch abundance as to do away every idea, tiiat it might 

 proceed from any water which the gas accidenlly held in 

 folution. 



Sliouid you deem thefe obfervalions of fufficient value, 

 an infertion of them in your valuable journal will greatly 

 oblige. 



Sir, 



Your moft obedient, 



and niofl humble Servant, 



J. MARTIN. 

 Croivn-Court, Old £r. ad Sired, 

 February 20, 1806. 



Xllf. 



Subjlance of a Memoir read before the Society of Emulahion, 

 at Aiuiensy by Mcjfrs. Reynard and Facqokr, on the 

 foul Air of Oil Cifierns *. 



Faaieffcasof M. ACHILLE POULAIN, foap-maker at Amiens, 



an^Udftcrn. ^"^ °"^ °^ ^'® workmen having been killed by the foul air 



of an oil ciftern, into which the latter had fallen in an attempt 



to cleanfe it, and the former in endeavouring to fave the 



man's life, MetTrs. Reynard and Facquer were induced to 



make an analyfts of the deleterious vapour which had caufed 



this melancholy accident. 



Dimenfions of The ciftern meafured about twelve feet in every direftion. 



the ciftern. jj,, mouth is fecured with a fmall cover which completely 



excludes the external air. 

 Appearance of The vegetable oil, of which only a fmall quantity at a time 

 the oil. had been depofited in this ciftern, was thick, vifcid, and even 



in forae places gelatinous, yielding a ftrong rancid effluvium. 



J * Annales de Chiraie, Vol, LVI. 



A lighted 



