31 ^ Anal^fis of the Atr. 
ftituent parts are of fo durable a nature, 
that the moft violent adion of fire, or fer- 
mentation, cannot induce fuch an alteration 
of its texture, as thereby to difqualify it 
from refuming, either by the means of fire, 
or fermentation, its former elaftick ftate 5 
unlefs in the cafe of vitrification, when with 
the vegetable Salt and Nitre, in which it is 
incorporated, it may perhaps fome of it 
with other chymical principles be inamuta. 
bly fixt : Since then this is the cafe, may 
we not with good reafon adopt this now fixt, 
now volatile Troteus among the chymical 
principles, and that a very adive one, as well as 
acid fulphur 5 notwithftanding it has hither- 
to been overlooked and rejeded by Chymifts^ 
as no way intitled to that denomination? 
If thofe who unhappily fpent their time 
and fubftance in fearch after an imaginary 
produdion, that was to reduce all things to 
gold, had, inftead of that fruitlefs purfuit, 
beftowed their labour in fcarching after this 
much ncgleded volatile HermeSy who has fo 
often efcaped thro* their burfl: receivers, in 
the difguife of a fubtile fpirit, a meer fla- 
tulent explofive matter; they would then 
inftead of reaping vanity, have found their 
rcfearche§ 
