1 66 Mr. Chenevix’s Observations and Experiments 
speak, with certainty, only of those things which are proved. 
Besides its acid properties, this substance has others, common 
to oxygenizable bodies. With 1 6 of oxygen, it forms an acid, 
which, in many of its properties, is to its radical what the 
sulphureous is to sulphur. Like the sulphureous, it is volatile ; 
has little attraction for salifiable bases ; destroys vegetable blues ; 
and is capable of further oxygenizement. With 65 of oxygen, 
it becomes more fixed, like sulphuric acid; has a stronger 
t , 
affinity for salifiable bases ; and acquires more truly acid pro- 
perties. Upon these considerations, I submit to the chemical 
world, whether, in the present state of our knowledge, it be 
not more philosophical to say. 
Muriatic radical, or 
some single word 
of the s ame i m port, 
Muriatous acid, 
Muriatic acid, 
Muriatic acid ; 
>instead of<( 
Oxygenized muriatic acid ; 
pHyperoxygenised muriatic acid. 
I am fully aware that, at first sight, this may appear extraor- 
dinary; and the more so, as we have no positive facts that 
prove muriatic acid to be a simple body. All we can, therefore, 
consider fairfy, is, in favour of which appellation does the sum 
of analogies seem to preponderate. And, to give the cause a 
candid investigation, we should begin by considering, whether 
the presence of oxygen in all bodies that have acid properties, 
has been rigidly demonstrated ; and not determine by this law 
of the French chemistry, till we are well convinced it has not 
been too generally assumed. 
If a nomenclature be not subservient to the uses of science, 
and does not keep pace with its progress, the relation between 
