226 Mr. E. Howard on a new fulminatitig Mercury, 



instance, be obtained in a form immediately indicative of its 

 quantity ; and a series of experiments to ascertain the quan- 

 tities in which many different substances can combine with 

 mercury, is not my present object. After observing, that the 

 mercury left in the residuary liquor can be precipitated in a very 

 subtle dark powder, by carbonate of potash, I shall content 

 myself with examining the nature of the white fumes. 



SECTION xv. 



It is clear that these white fumes contain mercury : they 

 may be wholly condensed in a range of Woulfe's apparatus, 

 charged with a solution of muriate of ammoniac. When the 

 operation is over, a white powder is seen floating with ether 

 on the saline liquor, which, if the bottles are agitated, is 

 entirely dissolved. After the mixture has been boiled, or for 

 some time exposed to the atmosphere, it yields to caustic ammo- 

 niac a precipitate, in all respects similar to that which is sepa- 

 rated by caustic ammoniac from corrosive sublimate. 



I would infer from these facts, that the white dense fumes 

 consist of mercury, or perhaps oxide of mercury, united to the 

 nitrous etherized gas; and that, when the muriate of ammoniac 

 containing them is exposed to the atmosphere, or is boiled, the 

 gas separates from the mercury; and the excess of nitrous acid, 

 which always comes over with nitrous ether, decomposes the 

 ammoniacal muriate, and forms corrosive mercurial muriate or 

 sublimate. This theory is corroborated, by comparing the quan- 

 tity of gas estimated to be contained in the fulminating mercury, 

 with the quantities of gas yielded from alcohol and nitrous acid, 

 with and without mercury in solution; not to mention that 

 more ether, as well as more gas, is produced without the inter- 



