MINERALOGY. 127 
them in folutionj which quality is called Criftal- 
lilation ^ 
SECT. CXX. 
In regard to the known principal circumftances 
or qualities of the mineral falts, they are divided 
into 
1. Acid Salts, or Mineral Acids, Salta Adda. 
2. Alcaline Salts, or Mineral Alcalis^ Salia 
Alcalina. 
The First O r d e 
Acid Salts, Salia Adda. 
The charaders of thefe falts are, that 
they, 
1. Have a four tafte. 
2. Are corrofive; that is to fay, have a power 
of diffolving a great number of bodies. 
^ No other falts ought to be confidered and ranked in a 
mineral fyftem, but thofe which are found natural in the 
earth (Sed. i.) ; and for this reafon a great number of falts 
will be in vain looked for here, viz. ail fuch as are either na- 
tural or prepared by art in the other two kingdoms of nature, 
and from fubilances belonging to them. Amongft thefe is 
nitre itfelf, and its acid, and the vegetable acid, fmee thefe 
are never had from true mineral bodies ; nor is it demonftrated, 
that they have their origin from the true mineral vitriolic 
and muriatic acids. There have, indeed, been many attempts 
made to reduce moft of them to a vitriolic acid, which by 
many is called the univerfal acid ; but experiments will not 
agree with it ; at leak nobody has yet been able, by uniting 
a phlogikon with another acid than the true vitriolic, to 
produce any fubkance in every particular refembling the true 
brimllone, or fulphur. For this leafon I cannot yet give my 
affent to Dodor Pietfeh’s opinion, who endeavours to prove, 
that the acid of nitre is derived from the vitriolic acid, that is, 
before his theory is confirmed by experience in the large way, 
and the analyfis has been more plainly laid open: but I think 
