IQ ON THE ANIMAL FLUIDS. 



deliquescent quality." That potash was present in a com- 

 bined state 1 admit may be inferred, but I say confidently 

 there 15.no proof, that it was united 10 muriatic acid, it is 

 not however incumbent on me, but on the Affirrner, toshow 

 Annther point with what it is combined. I think it right to notice another 

 *>t satisfac- unsa ti s factory part ol the process before me. It is said, a 

 concentrated solution of the saline mass in question did not 

 distinctly indicate potash by oximuriate of platina, but did 

 by tartaric acid. Subsequently however we are told, that 

 the dissoluble, as well as the indissoluble residue, of the ace- 

 tous compound in alcohol readily denoted the presence of 

 potash to the oximuriate of platina as well as to tartaric acid. 

 To me I own this account only shows, that the quantities 

 employed were too minute for distinct observation of facts. 

 How all ambiguity might have been removed I have taken 

 the liberty of proposing in commenting on this process in 

 my former communication to your Journal, p. 151. On 

 that occasion I expressed my doubt, whether or not the 

 acetate of soda be dissoluble in alcohol, but I referred to 

 the authority of experiment. Here, my learned friend 

 «xultingly construes these phrases of doubt, ttvo palpable 

 errours, and triumphs — " a hit, a hit, my Lord, a very pal- 

 pable hit."—- No, there is no errour in this case, Dr. M., 

 according to the English meaning of the terms used. To 

 make the most of these asserted errours I am also charged 

 with no less than three times repeating them ; as if the pro- 

 priety of writing was absolutely limited to the number of 

 Acetate of times an assertion should be delivered. At this time how- 

 cent and s" ever » without the slightest uneasy emotion, I say, that 

 luble in alco- acetate of soda is a deliquescent salt, and dissoluble in alco- 

 hol ; for I have performed the necessary experiment, not 

 indeed with " half a grain and a watch glass," but with 50 

 grains. The truth is, I had not leisure, little as was re- 

 quired, when I wrote my communication, to make the ex- 

 periment ; but as, on inquiry of a friend most likely to be 

 informed, I found he was ignorant ; as on just looking into 

 two valuable books, Aikin's Dictionary and Thompson's 

 JElementary work, one said the acetate of soda was a per- 

 manent and the other a deliquescent salt ; and as in my 

 Collection of specimens, there was a permanent crystallized 



salt 



hoi. 



