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Previous, however, to entering into the account of 
thefe falts, it will be proper to mention fome few 
things relative to falts in general. 
Simple falts are commonly divided into acid and 
alkaline. 
The acid are reckoned four in number* 
1. The vitriolic. 
2. The nitrous. 
3. The marine, or muriatic. 
4. And the vegetable. 
The alkaline three. 
1. The vegetable, or that which is got from the 
afhes of mod; vegetable fubdances. 
2. The foffil, or mineral, called likewife foda and 
natrum, which is got either by burning certain ma- 
rine plants ; or from fea fait 5 or in the bowels of the 
earth. 
3. The volatile, which is got either by putre- 
faction, or by the force of fire, from mod animal 
fubdances ; or by didillation from mudard feed, and 
fome other particular vegetables. 
The acid are didinguifhed from each other, by 
their tade, fmell, and other properties, but principally 
by their forming different neutral falts with the lame 
alkali. 
And the alkaline are known likewife from one 
another, by their forming different neutral falts, 
when joined with the fame acid. 
Hence when we find acid , or alkaline falts, in different 
bodies, if we faturate each with the lame alkali, or 
7 with 
