I *9 ] 
II. He ftrange FffeEls of fome effervefcent 
Mixtures ; in a Letter from Dr . James 
Mounfey, Phyfcian of the Ruffian Army , 
and F. R. S. to Mr. Henry Baker, F. R. S. 
Communicated by Mr. Baker. 
Mofcow, Sept. 20th, 1756. 
Read Jan. 20, 
1 7 57 * 
M R. Butler, a paper-ftainer, trying to 
make fome difcoveries for the bet- 
ter fixing of colours, was put in great danger of his 
life by the following experiments : 
Having put into one gallipot a quarter of an ounce 
of verdegris, and into another pot two leaves of falfe- 
gold leaf, to each he poured about a fpoonful of 
aqua-fortis. They began immediately to ferment, 
efpecially the gold-leaf He was very afliduous in 
ftirring them, to make the folution perfedt. Having 
nothing elfe at hand, he did this with a pair of fmali 
fcifiars, at arm's length, carefully turning away his 
face, to prevent the fumes from entering his lungs. 
He was called away, about other bufinefs, before he 
had quite ended his procefs j and foon after wafhed 
and fhifted himfelf : but had fcarce finifhed before 
he felt a burning pain in the ring-finger of his right 
hand, which he imputed to his having inadvertently 
touched the aqua-fortis. This increafed every mo- 
ment, and affedted the whole hand with burning pain 
and fwelling, which very foon fubfided : but then it 
hew into the left hand, and, a few minutes afterwards, 
into the infides of his legs, as if fcalding water had 
D 2 been 
