on a mineral Production from Devonshire. 159 
A very minute portion only of permanently elastic fluid 
passed into the pneumatic apparatus, and when examined, it 
proved to be common air. The quantity of clear fluid collected, 
when poured into another vessel, weighed 19 grains, but when 
the interior of the apparatus had been carefully wiped and dried, 
the whole loss indicated was 21 grains. The 19 grains of fluid 
had a faint smell, similar to that of burning peat ; it was trans- 
parent, and tasted like distilled water ; but it slightly reddened 
litmus paper. It produced no cloudiness in solutions of muriate 
of barytes, of acetite of lead, of nitrate of silver, or of sulphate 
of iron. 
The 59 grains of solid matter were dissolved in diluted sul- 
phuric acid, which left no residuum ; and the solution was mixed 
with potash, in sufficient quantity to cause the alumine at first 
precipitated again to dissolve. What remained undissolved by 
potash, after being collected and properly washed, was heated 
strongly and weighed ; its quantity was a grain and quarter. It 
was white, caustic to the taste, and had all the properties of lime. 
The solution was mixed with nitric acid till it became sour. 
Solution of carbonate of ammonia was then poured into it till 
the effect of decomposition ceased. The whole thrown into a 
filtrating apparatus left solid matter, which when carefully 
washed and dried at the heat of ignition, weighed 56 grains. 
They were pure alumine : hence the general results of the 
experiments, when calculated upon, indicated for 100 parts of 
this specimen, 
Of alumine 
Of lime 
Of fluid - 
Loss 
- 26.2 
2.4 
