222 Mr. E. Howard on a new fulminating Mercury. 



solves a portion of it, without extricating any notable quantity 

 of gas. The dissolution evaporated to a dry salt, tastes like cor- 

 rosive sublimate ; and the portion which the acid does not take 

 up, is left in the state of an uninflammable oxalate. 



SECTION xiv. 



These effects all tend to establish the existence of the nitrous 

 etherized gas, as a constituent part of the powder; and likewise 

 corroborate the explanation I have ventured to give, of the 

 action of the sulphuric acid. Moreover, a measured ounce and 

 a half of nitrous acid, holding 100 grains of mercury in solu- 

 tion, and 2 measured ounces of alcohol, yield 90 cubical inches 

 only of gas : whereas, without the intervention of mercury, they 

 yield 210 inches. Upon the whole, I trust it will be thought 

 reasonable to conclude, that the mercurial powder is composed 

 of the nitrous etherized gas, and of oxalate of mercury with 

 excess of oxygen. 



1st. Because the nitric acid converts the mercurial powder 

 entirely into nitrous gas, carbonic acid gas, acetous acid, and . 

 nitrate of mercury. 



2dly. Because the dilute sulphuric acid resolves it into an un- 

 inflammable oxalate of mercury, and separates from it a gas 

 resembling that into which the same acid resolves the nitrous 

 etherized gas. 



3dly. Because an uninflammable oxalate is likewise left, after 

 the muriatic acid has converted a part of it into sublimate. 



4thly. Because it cannot be formed by boiling nitrate of 

 mercury in dulcified spirit of nitre; although a very inflam- 

 mable oxalate is by this means produced. 



5thly. Because the difference of the product of gas, from the 



