ON DYEING REDS ON COTTON. 291 



fevr drops of fluid oil, weighed 48*8 gr. It turned sirup of 

 violets green ; at the same that it reddened infusion of lit- 

 mus, though it is true but faintly. 



The last-mentioned property was owing to a small portion 

 of acetic acid, which was formed in the course of the dis- 

 tillation: I think its changing sirup of violets green may 

 be ascribed to the presence of a small portion of gelatinous 

 matter, that had passed over with the aqueous vapour, by 

 which it was held in solution. 



For the rest, on assaying the liquor by every known Noammonia, 

 method, no test discovered in it the least trace of am- 

 monia. 



From this experiment it appears, that 61-19 gr. of fresh 

 sheep's dung yielded by distillation 



An acid and alkaline liquor 48*80 



Gaseous fluids 0*58 Products. 



Concrete and fluid oil 3.31 



Charcoal and phosphate of lime. ... 7 80 



61-00 

 Loss 0*1 



61-19 



From these results I think I may conclude, that sheep's The dungeon* 

 dung contains much more hidrogen than nitrogen, which j 3 .'™ mor f t 

 appears to me demonstrated, 1st, by the great quantity of nitrogen, 

 •water furnished by the matter analysed, and which certainly 

 did not exist in it ready formed : 2dly, by the hidrogen gas 

 collected underthe jar : 3dly, by the oil obtained : and 4thly, 

 by the absence of ammonia during the whole of the process. 



It appears to me therefore proved, not only that ammonia 

 does not exist in sheep's dung, but that it cannot be formed > 

 in it in large quantity. 



But let us go farther, and suppose for a moment, that Ammonia 

 sheep's dung contains a certain quantity of ammonia; is it c ^u'd rot have 

 not evident to all, who are acquainted with the process for juibedto it. 

 Adrianople red, that this alkali, so volatile in its nature, 

 X 2 could 



