316 Analyfis of the Air. 



flituent parts are of fo durable a nature, 

 that the moft violent a&ion of fire, or fer- 

 mentation, cannot induce fuch an alteration 

 of its texture, as thereby to difqualify it 

 from refuming, either by the means of fire, 

 or fermentation, its former elaftick ftate> 

 unlefs in the cafe of vitrification, when with 

 the vegetable Salt and Nitre, in which it is 

 incorporated, it may perhaps fome of it 

 with other chymical principles be immuta- 

 bly fixt : Since then this is the cafe, may 

 we not with good reafon adopt this now fixt, 

 now volatile Troteus among the chymical 

 principles, andthataveryaftive one, as well as 

 acid fulphur ; notwithstanding it has hither- 

 to been overlooked and reje&ed by Chymifts^ 

 as no way intitled to that denomination \ 



If thofe who unhappily fpent their time 

 and fubftance in fearch after an imaginary 

 production, that was to reduce all things to 

 gold, had, inftead of that fruitlefs purfuit, 

 beftowed their labour in fearching after this 

 much negle&ed volatile Hertnes, who has fo 

 often efcaped thro' their burft receivers, in 

 the difguife of a fubtile fpirit, a meer fla- 

 tulent explofive matter; they would then 

 inftead of reaping vanity, have found their 



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