The History of Jamaica, or a General Survey of the Antient and Modern State of That Island - With Reflections on Its Situation, Settlements, Inhabitants, Climate, Products, Commerce, Laws, and Government #245358

Modern experiments have proved, that the mineral fpirit, which imparts to'cbalyéeate-waterr all that pungent tafle, vivacity, and volatile principle, on which their virtues chiefly depend, is no other thanfixea' air, which endues water with the power of idifl'olving not only calcarious earths, but even iron. Dr. Prie/i/y has fhewn an eafy mode of extracting this air from grofily-powdered chalk, juf't covered with water, with a fmall addition of fpirit of vitriol, com mouly called the vitriolic acid. He has (hewn it capable of opera ting medecinally in putrid diftempers; and the experiments tried by Dr.' Percival, and other able gentlemen of the faculty, have con firmed its amazing efficacy in feveral cafes.