[ 3^4 3 
the fpirituous folvent, and the martial earth its bale. 
It further appears, that the mephitic air is poflefled 
of all the properties, by which l'ome of the chemifts 
have diftinguifhed thole pure and fimple bodies, or 
fpirits, which by them are efleemed, in their own 
nature , and of ' themfehes, faline, and which, in union 
with other bodies, form falts that are more com- 
pound. For this aereal folvent, in like manner with 
the pure acid fpirits, is foluble in water, and im- 
parts thereto its peculiar lharp and acidulous favour : 
moreover, in combination with various metalline 
and abforbent earths, this volatile elaftic fpirit, like 
thofe acids, forms various faline concretes of the 
neutral kind; inalmuch as thofe metalline and ab- 
forbent earths, when united to this elaflic fpirit, are 
thereby rendered foluble in water; and, in union 
therewith, acquire peculiar favours, refulting, in part, 
from this their fpirituous principle, and, in part alfo, 
from the particular kind of earth with which it is 
combined. This air, therefore, conlidered in the 
relation which it bears to feveral earthy fubftances, 
and to water ; conlidered alfo as it imprefTes the or- 
gans of tafle, with its peculiar brilk and acidulous 
favour, may juftly be lliled a mineral elajlic fpirit 
ef a faline nature , and is fufficiently diftinguilhed 
from all other faline fpirits, by its great rarity, aod 
by its aereal nature. How tar, and under what 
laws, this relation between mephitic air and various 
faline earths, and other bodies, may be extended, 
hath not yet been fully difcovered : fuffice it in this 
place to remark, that a clafs of Inline bodies of a 
neutral nature are here detected, competed of various 
earthy bafes, united to a volatile aereal fpirit, all of 
which 
7 
