as chemical analysis has hitherto been able to show. We may even presume
that the earths must soon cease to be considered as simple bodies; they
are the only bodies of the salifiable class which have no tendency to
unite with oxygen; and I am much inclined to believe that this proceeds
from their being already saturated with that element. If so, they will
fall to be considered as compounds consisting of simple substances,
perhaps metallic, oxydated to a certain degree. This is only hazarded as
a conjecture; and I trust the reader will take care not to confound what
I have related as truths, fixed on the firm basis of observation and
experiment, with mere hypothetical conjectures.
The fixed alkalies, potash, and soda, are omitted in the foregoing
Table, because they are evidently compound substances, though we are
ignorant as yet what are the elements they are composed of.
TABLE _of compound oxydable and acidifiable bases._
_Names of the radicals._
Oxydable or acidifiable { Nitro-muriatic radical or
base, from the mineral { base of the acid formerly
kingdom. { called aqua regia.
{ Tartarous radical or base.
{ Malic. }
{ Citric. }
{ Pyro-lignous. }
Oxydable or acidifiable { Pyro-mucous. }
hydro-carbonous or { Pyro-tartarous. }
carbono-hydrous radicals { Oxalic. }
from the vegetable { Acetous. }
kingdom. { Succinic. } Radicals
{ Benzoic. }
{ Camphoric. }
{ Gallic. }
}
Oxydable or acidifiable { Lactic. }
radicals from the animal { Saccholactic. }
kingdom, which { Formic. }
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