C 943 ] 
had not the leaft faline tafte, nor did it give any fio-n 
of effervefcence, when fpirit of nitre was dropped 
into it. 
From the preceding experiments it appears, that 
the fubftance called foffil-wood confifts, for the 
mod; part, of water, and that a considerable quantity 
of this principle is feparated from it by a gentle heat ; 
which Seems to be the reafon, why fuch foffil-wood, 
on being expofed to the fun and air, or kept in a dry 
P^ce, foon becomes full of fuperficial cracks, re- 
sembling a piece of timber, which, by lying long on 
the ground in the open air, has begun to decay : 
that though the foffil-wood does not, like amber,* 
or pit-coal, yield, by diflillation, a light oil floating 
on its phlegm, and a volatile acid fait in a concrete 
form, yet that a light oil, and a volatile acid fait, in 
a considerable quantity, are intimately mixed with 
the water, which diftils from it : that this foffil- 
wood differs, in feveral particulars, from all wood 
belonging to the vegetable kingdom, which has been 
examined by fire after the fame manner. 
iff, Its powder burnt in a clofe veffel, and kept 
red-hot for a much longer time, than is fufficient to 
reduce the like quantity of vegetable charcoal, emits 
(when fprinkled on a red-hot iron.) a thick heavy 
black fmoke. 
2 dly, The fame powder, burnt as before-men- 
tioned, doth not eaiily take fire, nor burn of itfelf, 
nor conffime to allies, even when expofed, in an open 
crucible, to a ffrong fire, and kept in it ignited, and 
almoft white, for a considerable time. 
3 dly. The matter left by this powder, after its 
phlogiffic principle has been feparated from it by 
time and air, contains no alkaline fait, and appears 
4 t© 
