306 The Vitriol 



new production happens •, and as foon as the ful- 

 phur is thus fet free, fo foon does it lay hold, with 

 its acid or fait, on the loofened metal-earth, and 

 therewith exhibit the vitriol. 



Hence y in the procefs of vitriolifation, though 

 never fo attentively performed, not the lead fepa- 

 rated fulphur is to be found. Now as little as in 

 this refolution of the pyrites, or deftruction of its 

 texture,, the bufinefs is a feparation, though this 

 Jafr, in fome meafure, happeneth ; fo little is the 

 exhibition of the vitriol a feparation from pyrites, 

 as really, and in truth, to be confidered a new pro- 

 duction : for, the parts of the vitriol, namely, the 

 fulphur-acid and metal-earth, are indeed in the py- 

 rites, but not thus combined. 



In brief, vitriol is as little in the pyrites, as bran- 

 dy and a volatile fait are in the grape and frefh 

 urine; but are all three produced from pyrites, 

 mud, and urine refpectively, by means of weather- 

 ing, fermentation, and corruption ; and that not 

 only by a transformation of the particles of the py- 

 rites, muft, and urine, but alfo by an actual effen- 

 tial influx of the particles of the air, confidered a- 

 bove in their water, earth, and fait, and which here 

 not only pafs through, but adhere to the frefli py- 

 rites and its particles, k e. are not fo much a tran- 

 fient, as an immanent inftrument •, as appears from 

 thefeveral productions and transformations in the 

 three kingdoms. 



It feems, however, probable, that air enters not 

 fo much by its faline part, as by its univerfal hu- 

 midity, into frefh pyr ites, for the exhibition of vi- 

 triol. The probability of this hypothefis may be 

 inferred from hence, that there already adheres to 



fuch 



