[ 239 ] 



which it did not feem to have any affinity; I im- 

 mediately began to introduce a variety of fub- 

 ftances to it, in order to afcertain its peculiar pro- 

 perties and affinities, and alfo the properties of thofe 

 other bodies with refpecl to it. " 



Beginning with water, which, from preceding" 

 obfervations, I knew would imbibe it, and be- 

 come impregnated with it; I found that 2§ grains 

 of rain water abforbed three ounce meafures of this 

 vapour, after which it was increafed one third in its 

 bulk, and weighed twice as much as before; (o 

 that this concentrated vapour feems to be twice, as 

 heavy as rain water. Water impregnated with it 

 makes the ftrongeft fpirit of fait that I have feen,. 

 diflblving iron with the moft rapidity. Confe- 

 quently, two thirds of the bed fpirit of fait is no- 

 thing more than mere phlegm or water. 



Iron filings, being admitted to this vapour, were 

 difTolved by it pretty faftj half of the vapour dis- 

 appearing, and the other half becoming inflammable 

 air, not abforbed by water. Putting chalk' to it,, 

 fixed air was produced'. 



I had not introduced many fubftances to this va- 

 pour, before I difcovered that it had an affinity with, 

 phlogifton, fo that it would deprive other fubftances 

 of it, and form with it fuch an union as cpnftitutes 

 inflammable air ; which feems to fhew, that inflam> 

 mable air univerfally confifts of the union of fome 

 acid vapour with phlogifton. 



Inflammable air was produced, when to this 

 vapour I put fpirit of wine, oil of olives, oil of 

 turpentine, charcoal, phofphorus, bees-wax, and 

 even fulphur. This laft obfervatian, I own, fur* 



prized: 



