Page:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Vol 1.djvu/487

Rh these cases, between the single or double portion of sulphur, which of them is to be regarded as the elementary atom, according to Mr. Dalton’s view of the subject.

Professor Berzelius next examines various compounds, which may be termed carbo-sulphurets of the alkalies and earths. The carbo- sulphuret of ammonia sublimes unchanged in close vessels ; but when exposed to air, the carbon is deposited, and hydro—sulphuret is pro- duced; and, in the same manner, the carbo—sulphurets of lime, ba- rytes, and strontia are decomposed when moisture is present, and hydro-sulphurets of these earths are formed.

The remainder of this appendix contains the analysis of a solid white crystalline compound, having the appearance and volatility of camphor, formed by exposure of the sulphuret of carbon during three weeks to the fumes of strong nitro-muriatic acid. It is insoluble in water, but dissolves in alcohol, ether, and in oils, whether ﬁxed or volatile. When this compound was sublimed through a red-hot tube containing iron wire, it was decomposed, and found to consist of mu- riatic acid, 48'74; sulphurous acid, 29-63; and carbonic acid, 21'63.

The author having resided several years near the coal mines in the county of Durham. has paid much attention to the circumstances of those explosions which so frequently occasion the death of many in- dustrious people, and has contrived a lamp, which he thinks likely to answer the purpose of illumination, without any danger attending its use.

He is of opinion, that ventilation, as at present practised, has little or no effect in preventing explosions; since it has no tendency to diminish the quantity of inﬂammable gas emitted by the old workings, which must always be in danger of exploding wherever it comes into contact with atmospheric air, if light be applied to it. The partitions and folding doors put up at the entrances of old workings appear to be very inadequate to prevent the occurrence of such explosive mixtures; and their frequency is shown by the number of accidents which the author enumerates as having taken place in his own neighbourhood alone in the course of the last seven years. The number of explosions in the course of that time has been six; and these have destroyed more than two hlmdred pit-men, who have left wives and children in a state of poverty and distress. In some instances, large pumps have been erected at the top of the shaft, worked by steam-engines, for the purpose of drawing off the inﬂammable gas from those parts where it most abounds ; but even these have been found insufﬁcient, since the engine will not, in all instances, be applied to the part where it is most wanted: and it is estimated, that wherever