tn the Pyrites. 167 



c with the three drachms and fixteen grains above, 

 * make fix drachms, that is, | in four ounces of 

 ' flowers of fulphur 9 &c.' 



This account our author [M. Homberg] has 

 fpun out to a ftill greater length ; but as what re- 

 mains behind does not relate to the hiftory, but his 

 reflections and thoughts thereon, I fhall only ex- 

 tract a couple of articles from it, and illuftrate 

 thefe, and ibme of the foregoing, with fome re- 

 marks. 



In the firft place, 'tis not the true method of 

 analyfing a fubject into its eflfential parts, to make 

 ufe of additions, that may afford any fufpicion of 

 clofer mixtions, and new infeparable eductions. 

 Sulphur and oil are fo nearly allied to each other, 

 that nothing can be more fo. What can we fup- 

 pofe to be in oil, proper for making feparations ? 

 And how indifferently too does the feparation come 

 out, efpecially when we confider the remaining 

 black, unvitrifiable earth ? 



(2.) Is it alfo certain, that the afifigned fixth 

 part of acid fait was all of it derived only from the 

 fulphur ; and may not the vegetable acid, fuch as 

 may be plainly fhewn to be in oils, contribute 

 fomething alfo, and how much ? 



(3.) The three lad drachms, feparated from the 

 remainder by the burning-glafs, our author only 

 fufpects to be an acid fait of fulphur, he cannot 

 prove it, like that gone over in the diftillation. 



(4.) Doubtlefs, the oil has alfo left behind it 

 not a little of a coaly earth \ how then can all the 

 matter remaining over be afcribed to the fulphur ? 



M 4 Nay, 



