C 3 66 ] 
acids, found in a liquid form, have this effeft, from 
the light vinous acids to the moft ponderous acid of 
vitriol ; fo that the affinity between the r e metalline 
and abforbent earths, and this their aereal folvent, 
is lefs than that which exifts between the fame earths 
and all the known acid fpirits. In all additions of 
thefe acids to the fpirituous or acidulous waters, an 
effervefcence has been obferved, not readily ac- 
counted for, by thole who fuppole an acid to predo- 
minate in thofe waters. The conflict and difcharge 
of air here arifes from the expulfion of the aereal 
principle from its terrene bafe ; in like manner as the 
acids of lea fait and nitre are expelled, with effer- 
vefcence, from their alcaline bales, by the more 
powerful acid of vitriol. And here, by the way, it 
may be proper to remark, that the vitriolic acid, 
when mixed with the acidulce and other chalybeate 
waters, doth not preferve thofe waters from decay, as 
the excellent hales, and others, after him, have 
fuppoled; but, on the contrary, deftroys their tex- 
ture, or decompounds them, by expelling their 
elaffic fpirit, and entering into new combinations 
with their earthy principles ; thereby forming a new 
compound, lels perifhable indeed than the former, 
but alfo lefs efficacious in the cure of many difeafes. 
When Rhenifh wine is added to the acidul<z 3 the 
large quantity of air that dies off may, in part, pro- 
ceed from the winej but when I mixed the vitriolic 
acid with pouhox water, a confide, able quantity of 
air was indeed difcharged ; but not the whole which 
that water holds in folutlon. I therefore conjeffured, 
that fome part of the air, contained in that water, 
might be imbibed by the fuperabundant acid, which 
1 ufed 
