2qd The Vitriol 



levels and drifts only, and therefore lying open ; I 

 have alfo faid, hitherto, as the like fort may, fome 

 time or other, happen to be found in other parts, 

 when the former will, in courfc, have its ablolute 

 name limited. 



Thus long have I detained my reader with a re- 

 lation of fuch circumftances as regard vitriol on- 

 ly externally, and yet 1 muft add fomething more, 

 before I proceed to the principal part of this fmall 

 effay, in order to obviate any doubt and mifcon- 

 ception that might ftill remain ; namely, that the 

 term vitriol is alfo employed for other metallic faks, 

 befides thofe of iron and copper, filver, lead, and 

 quickfilver, alfo tin and gold ; yet the two latter 

 bear fomewhat more difficultly the being reduced 

 to faks, which may be, and by many are called, 

 'vitriols \ as vitriolum luna, faturni, &c. But as 

 fuch vitriols are prepared only by means of the faks 

 from nitres common fait and vinegar, which muft 

 be greatly inferior to thofe in vitriol and fulphur ; 

 therefore, not by means of the higheft fait in nature, 

 or what has referved to itfelf the iron and the cop- 

 per for folutioru 



Tho* the vitriol-acid may feem to enter into fome 

 bodies, particularly quickfilver and lead, efpecially 

 after as due a degree of appropriation as pofiible, 

 yet not in fuch meafure or proportion, as it is 

 lodged in an iron and copper vitriol, which employ 

 a very large quantity of acid ; but in a quickfilver 

 or lead calx, thus difToived, or rather only fome- 

 what corroded, fcarce any at all is required, nor is 

 it neceffary they mould be in fuch a degree of union, 

 as in a tranfparent vitriolic body, which may be 

 fuppofed to be more clofe and tender than fuch a 



calc*- 



