[ 5°4 ] 



XXVI. On the G ciseous Com bin at ions of 

 Hydrogen and Carbon. 



By Thomas Thomson, M. D. F. R. S. E. 



[ReadZUt July 18 10.J 



The gases formerly distinguished by the name 

 of heavy inflammable airs, which are evolved du- 

 ring the distillation of most animal and vegetable 

 substances, differ so much from each other in their 

 properties, that it has been hitherto impossible to 

 reduce them under a small number of species. 

 When burnt, they all yield carbonic acid and wa- 

 ter, and of course contain carbon and hydrogen ; 

 but the proportion of these bodies formed, and of 

 oxygen consumed during the combustion, varies 

 very much at different times. Many of these 

 gases have been examined with much address by 

 Cruickshanks, Dalton, and Henry. Berthollet slU 



