oppose this union. These obstacles are the mutual adhesion of the two constituent parts of the atmosphere for each other, and the elective attraction which unites the base of vital air with caloric; in consequence of these, when the calcination ends, or is at least carried as far as is possible, in a determinate quantity of atmospheric air, there still remains a portion of respirable air united to the mephitis, which the mercury cannot separate. I shall afterwards show, that, at least in our climate, the atmospheric air is composed of respirable and mephitic airs, in the proportion of 27 and 73; and I shall then discuss the causes of the uncertainty with still exists with respect to the exactness of that proportion.
Since, during the calcination of mercury, air is decomposed, and the base of its respirable part is fixed and combined with the mercury, it follwos, from the principles already established, that caloric and light must be disengaged during the process: But the two following causes prevent us from being sensible of this taking place: As the calcination lasts during several days, the disengagement of caloric an light, spread out in a considerable space of time, becomes extremely small for each particular moment of that time, so as not the be perceptible; and, in the next place, the operation being carried on by means of fire in a furnace, the heat
