on the 'Nature of certain Bodies. 465 
charcoal might be employed in a number of processes till it 
was nearly entirely consumed, and that the sulphur, not ren- 
dered liquid, might be used for several operations. In all cases 
mixtures of* sulphuretted hydrogene gas and hydrocarbonate 
were evolved. 
I particularly examined a specimen of the liquor which had 
been obtained in the last process from charcoal that had been 
often used. It was a non-conductor of electricity, and when 
the Voltaic spark was taken in it, did not evolve gas with 
more rapidity than sulphur ; and this gas proved to be sul- 
phuretted hydrogene. 
Supposing the liquor to contain hydrogene in considerable 
quantities, I conceived that it must be decomposed by oxymu- 
riatic acid ; but it merely absorbed this substance, depositing 
crystals of common sulphur, and becoming a fluid similar to 
the sulphuretted muriatic acid ; though when water was in- 
troduced, hydrated sulphur was instantly formed, and muriatic 
acid gas evolved. 
From the quantity of carbonic acid formed by the combus- 
tion of the carburetted inflammable gas, produced in the ope- 
ration of the action of well burnt charcoal upon sulphur, it 
may be conceived to contain oxygene. This circumstance, 
and the fact that no hydrate of sulphur or muriatic acid gas is 
formed by the operation of oxymuriatic acid upon the liquor, 
but common sulphur precipitated ; are in favour of the opi- 
nion, that the sulphur in this liquor, contains less oxygene 
than in its common state. This idea has likewise occurred to 
* Five measures of the mixed gas, agitated with solution of potash, left a residuum 
of 3.5. These were detonated with 5.5 of oxygene; the whole diminution, was to 6, 
©f this residuum 2.5 appeared to be carbonic acid. 
