upon oxygenized and hyperoxygenized muriatic Acid , See. 163 
of sulphur, it detonates in the most violent manner; and does not, 
like hyperoxygenized muriate of potash, require the addition of 
charcoal, to possess a very great force of explosion. The slightest 
pressure is sufficient to cause this mixture to detonate; and 
I think I shall be within bounds, when I state, that half a grain 
of hyperoxygenized muriate of silver, with a quarter of a grain 
of sulphur, explodes with a violence at least equal to five grains of 
hyperoxygenized muriate of potash, with the due quantities 
of sulphur and charcoal. The flash is white and vivid, and is 
accompanied by a sharp and quick noise, like the fulminating 
silver so ably described by Mr. Howard ; and the silver is 
reduced to the metallic state, and vaporized. 
I think it right to add a few remarks, upon what I have 
termed the proportionate affinities of acids and of bases, one for 
the other. It is a law, not indeed universally, but frequently 
observed, and very well worthy of consideration, that the acids 
are attracted by metallic oxides, in a very different order from 
that in which they are disposed to unite to alkaline and earthy 
bases. 
Nitric acid, which holds „ so high a place in the order of 
affinities for alkalis, is expelled from metallic oxides by most 
acids. Phosphoric, fluoric, all the vegetable acids, except two 
or three, and the animal acids, attract the latter bases more 
strongly. Nay, we shall find, upon an attentive examination, 
that acids commonly attract metallic oxides, in the inverse 
ratio of their action upon metals, or, in other words, in pro- 
portion to their own affinity of composition. Thus, the phos- 
phoric and fluoric acids sometimes rank before the sulphuric; and 
the nitric, as I before said, is generally very low. Hyperoxyge- 
nized muriatic acid seems to follow the same rule ; and takes its 
