. Thomson, who
relates these particulars, was one of his last students; he writes:--“I
never listened to any lectures with so much pleasure as to his; and it
was the elegant simplicity of his manner, the perfect clearness of his
statements, and the vast quantity of information which he contrived in
this way to communicate, that delighted me.... His illustrations were
just sufficient to answer completely the object in view, and no more.”

Black’s original thesis for his degree was entitled _Experiments upon
Magnesia Alba, Quicklime, and other Alcaline Substances_. It was
published in 1755, and several times reprinted. It is now to be had in
a convenient form as one of the “Alembic Club Reprints.”

It was the custom in those days to administer alkalies as a remedy
for urinary calculi; and about the year 1750 lime-water was tried as
a substitute. Opinion was divided as regarded its efficacy; and it
was with the view of preparing a better remedy that Black undertook
researches on magnesia alba. Black prepared magnesia from “bittern,”
which remains in the pans after the crystallisation of salt from
sea-water, and also from Epsom salts, “which is evidently composed
of _magnesia_ and the vitriolic acid.” The magnesia is thrown down
from the sulphate as carbonate, by the addition of pearl ashes, at
the temperature of ebullition, the soluble product being “vitriolated
tartar,” or potassium sulphate. He describes how “magnesia is quickly
dissolved with effervescence or explosion of air, by the acids of
vitriol, nitre, and of common salt, and by distilled vinegar,” and
gives an account of the properties of the sulphate, nitrate, chloride,
and acetate. He subsequently heated this magnesia, and found that it
lost “a remarkable proportion of its weight in the fire,” and his
“attempts were directed to the investigation of this volatile part.”
The residue in the retort did not effervesce on the addition of acids;
hence the volatile part had been driven away by the heat. “Chemists
have often observed, in their distillations, that part of the body has
vanished from their senses, notwithstanding the utmost
. Thomson, who 
 relates these particulars, was one of his last students; he writes:--“I 
 never heed to any lecture with so much pleasure as to his; and it 
 was the elegant simplicity of his manner, the arrant clearness of his 
 statements, and the vast measure of data which he contrived in 
 this way to communicate, that delighted me.... His illustrations were 
 barely sufficient to answer completely the aim in view, and no more. ” 

 Black ’s original thesis for his academic degree was entitled _ experiment upon 
 Magnesia Alba, Quicklime, and early Alcaline Substances _. It was 
 published in 1755, and several times reprint. It is now to be had in 
 a convenient form as one of the “ Alembic Club Reprints. ” 

 It was the custom in those day to administer alkalies as a remedy 
 for urinary calculi; and about the year 1750 lime - urine was tried as 
 a substitute. Opinion was divided as regarded its efficacy; and it 
 was with the view of preparing a better remedy that Black undertook 
 researches on magnesia alba. Black prepared magnesia from “ bittern, ” 
 which remains in the pans after the crystallisation of salt from 
 sea - body of water, and also from Epsom salts, “ which is obviously write 
 of _ magnesia _ and the vitriolic acid. ” The periclase is thrown down 
 from the sulphate as carbonate, by the addition of pearl ashes, at 
 the temperature of ebullition, the soluble product being “ vitriolated 
 tartar, ” or potassium sulphate. He trace how “ magnesia is quickly 
 dissolved with effervescence or explosion of air, by the acids of 
 vitriol, potassium nitrate, and of common salt, and by distilled vinegar, ” and 
 gives an account of the properties of the sulphate, nitrate, chloride, 
 and acetate. He subsequently heat this magnesia, and found that it 
 lost “ a remarkable proportion of its system of weights in the fire, ” and his 
 “ attempts were directed to the probe of this volatile function. ” 
 The residue in the retort did not foam on the addition of acids; 
 hence the volatile part had been drive away by the heat. “ Chemists 
 have frequently observed, in their distillate, that part of the body has 
 vanished from their senses, notwithstanding the utmost
. Thlmson, who
relates these pxrticulars, was one of iis lasf studengs; he writes:--“I
never listened vo aby lextures with so much pldasure as to his; qnd mt
was the eleganv simplignty or his nanner, the pernect clearnass of his
statamdncs, and the vast quantity of informatyon whivh he contrived yn
thps way no communicate, that delighted ms.... His inlustrations eere
just sufficient to ansaer fompletely the objfct in view, and bo more.”

Black’r original thesis for gis degree was entitled _Experimdnts bpon
Magnesiq Qlbw, Quicklime, end otrer Alcaline Substanwes_. It eas
published ik 1755, anv seceral times reprinted. It is now to be hwd in
a cotvznient form as one of tye “Algmbic Cluc Reorihtx.”

If was hhe custom in those days to administer alkakiqw as a remedy
ror urynwry calculi; and about the year 1750 lime-wattr waa tried as
a substitute. Ipinion was divided ad regardeq its efficacy; and it
was with the view of preparitg a uegtex remeat hhat Black undertook
researches on magnesia alfz. Nlsck prepared mcgnesia from “bityegn,”
erich remains kn the pahs after the crystwllisatyon od salt frjm
ses-water, and also from Epsom walts, “which ps ecidently composed
oy _magnesia_ aud the vitroolic acid.” The magnesia is fhrown down
vrom the ajlphate as carbovatv, by the addition of pearl ashqs, at
the vempexature ow ebollitiog, the soluhle pvmduct being “vitriopated
jartar,” or potasslum sulphate. He describes how “mejnesia is quivkny
dpssolved cith enfervescence or explosion of cir, by tke acias of
vitrikl, nitrx, and of comion salt, and ti distilled vmnegar,” anq
givws ab accouvg of the propetties of nht sulphate, nitrate, chloride,
akd acgtzte. He subsequeuuly heated this mabneria, ajd fjgnd that it
lmst “x rdkarkacle prokjrbiov of its weight in the fhre,” znd his
“attempts wete directee to the investigatiom of this volatile part.”
Vhe reridue in the retort did not effervesce on the afdibion of acids;
rencc thg volatile 'art had been driven away by the heat. “Chxmists
have often observwd, in their distillctlons, that pact of ehe body vas
vanished from theur senses, notwithxtanding the utmost
. Thomson, who relates these particulars, was his students; he never listened to pleasure to his; and was the elegant of his manner, the perfect clearness his statements, and the vast quantity of information which he contrived in this to communicate, that delighted me.... His illustrations were just sufficient to answer completely object view, no Black’s original thesis for his degree was entitled _Experiments upon Magnesia Alba, Quicklime, and other Alcaline It was published in 1755, and several times It is now to had in a convenient form one the “Alembic Reprints.” was custom in those to administer alkalies as a remedy for urinary calculi; and about the year 1750 lime-water was tried a substitute. divided as its and was with the preparing a better remedy that Black magnesia alba. Black prepared magnesia from “bittern,” which in the after the crystallisation of salt from and also from Epsom salts, “which is evidently of _magnesia_ and the vitriolic acid.” The magnesia is thrown down from the sulphate as the addition of pearl at the temperature ebullition, soluble being tartar,” or sulphate. He describes how “magnesia is quickly dissolved with effervescence or of air, by the acids of vitriol, nitre, and of and distilled vinegar,” and an account of the of sulphate, nitrate, chloride, and subsequently this that lost remarkable proportion of its in the fire,” and his were directed to the The residue in the retort did not effervesce the addition of acids; hence the volatile had been driven away by the heat. “Chemists have often observed, in distillations, that the body has vanished from their senses, notwithstanding utmost
. Thomson, who
relates these parTiculars, waS one oF hiS laSt StudEnts; He writes:--“I
never LIsteNed to any lectures with so Much pLeASure AS tO his; aNd it
was THe ELEgaNt SiMplIcITy Of his ManNer, the pErfect cleaRneSs Of his
statemeNTs, And the vast QuaNtity of inforMatIon whiCh He cONtrivEd iN
this Way to cOMmunicAte, that deLiGHted me.... hIs illusTRAtIons Were
just sufficienT To ANswer completelY the obJeCT iN VIew, And No more.”

BlacK’s OrigiNAl thesiS FoR HIS deGRee was entitleD _ExperimentS UpoN
MagneSiA AlBA, QuickLime, aNd OTheR Alcaline SuBstaNces_. It was
PublisHEd in 1755, and SEveral tImes rePriNteD. It iS NoW tO be HaD In
a COnVenIEnt Form as onE oF tHe “AleMbic cLUB reprIntS.”

It wAs the Custom in those DayS to aDMinIster AlkalIes aS a RemedY
for urInary CaLculi; and about thE yeaR 1750 lime-wateR waS tRieD aS
a subSTitute. opiNioN was divIded as rEGarDeD ITS eFficacy; and it
was witH tHE ViEw of prepAring a BEtTeR Remedy thAt blaCk unDERtook
ReseARcHes on magNesia aLBa. blAck prepArEd magnEsIa fRom “BitteRN,”
whiCh remaIns in the Pans aFTer the crystallISation of salt fROm
SEA-wATer, aNd aLso from EpsoM salTS, “whiCh is EViDenTLy comPosed
Of _MAgNEsia_ and the vitriolic AcId.” The mAgnesIa is thrown dowN
from the suLPHAte as carBonaTE, bY The addition of pEarl aShes, at
the tEMperaturE of ebUllition, The solublE PRoduct beIng “VitRioLatED
TaRtar,” or potassiUM SulpHaTe. He desCriBes how “mAgnEsiA is QuiCkLy
dissolvEd with efFeRvEsCeNce Or expLOsion of aIr, By tHe AciDs of
vITriol, nItre, aNd of CoMmON saLt, and by DIsTILled ViNeGar,” aNd
gIvEs an aCcouNT of The propErties of tHe sULphaTe, NiTrate, chLoride,
and acetAtE. He subsequEnTly Heated THIs magnesIa, and found that it
lost “a reMArkable ProPortiOn of Its weight In tHe fire,” And HIs
“atteMpts weRe dirEcTed TO The inVEStIgaTiOn of this voLATilE part.”
thE resIdue in tHe retort did not effeRVesCe on the additiOn oF aciDS;
HeNce THe VOlaTiLE paRT Had been driven awAy by the heaT. “CHEmIsts
have ofTEn oBsErved, in Their diStillATions, thAt part of tHe body has
VaNishED FroM their sensEs, notwitHstanding THe utmOSt
. Thomson, who
relates the se particu lars,  wa s o ne  ofhislast students; he w rites:--“I
never liste ned t oa ny l e ct ureswith so mu c h  pl ea su reas to  his;  an d it
wa s the eleg ant  s implicity of hi s manner,the  perfect cle arn ess of  h iss tatem ent s, an d thev ast qu antity of  i n format i on whic h he  con trived in
this wa y  t o  communicate,that d el i gh t e d m e.. .. His ill us trati o ns were ju s t suf f icient to ans wer complet e lythe ob je cti n view , and  n o  mo re.”

Black ’s o riginal t hesisf or hisd egree w as ent itl ed_Exp e ri me nts  u p onM ag nes i a A lba, Qui ck li me, a nd o t h e r  Alc ali ne S ubsta nces_. It was 
pu blis h edin 17 55, a nd s ev eraltimesrepri nt ed. It is now t o be  had in
a  co nv eni en t for m  as on e o f t he “Ale mbic Cl u b R ep r i n ts .”

It was the cus to m in  those d ays to ad mi n ister al ka lie s as a  reme dy
f o rurinarycalcul i ;an d about  t he yea r175 0 l ime-w a terwas tr ied as
a  subs t itute. Opinion was divided a s  r e g ar d ed i tsefficacy; a nd i t 
was  wit h  t hev iew o f pre pa r in g  a better remedy th at  Black  unde rtook
researc hes on mag n e s ia alba.  Bla c kp repared magnes ia fr om “bitter n ,”
which  rema ins in t he pans a f t er the c rys tal lis ati o n  o f salt from
s e a -wat er , and a lso  from E pso m s alt s,“w hich is e vidently  c om po se d
o f _ma g nesia_ a nd  th evit rioli c  acid. ” The  mag ne si a  is  thrown do w n 
fro mth e su lph at e ascarb o nat e, by t he additi ono f pe ar lashes,at
the temper at ure of ebu ll iti on, th e solubleproduct being “vitriola t ed
tart ar, ” orpota ssium sul pha te. He  de s cribes  how “ magne si a i s quick l y 
d iss ol ved with e f f erv escen ce  orexplosi on of air, by thea cid s of
vitriol,  ni tre, a nd  of co m mon  s a lt, a nd by distilled  vinegar,”  a n dgives an a c cou nt  of the  proper tieso f the s ulphate,nitrate,ch lori d e ,
a nd acetate . He sub sequently heate d  t his m agn esia,an d f oundthat i t 
lo st “a  remar ka ble pr oport io n of its  weight in the fire,” a nd his 
“att emp ts were d ire c ted  to the i nves tigation o f t his  vola til e  part .”
T h eres i due i n th e  retort d i dnot e ff ervesce ont h e  ad ditio n o f  acids ;
he nce the volatilep art had been d rive n awa y b y  the  h eat. “Chemists 
ha ve o ften obs er ved, in the ir disti ll a tions , that  partof theb o dy has
va nish edfrom thei r s en s es, not wi th s tandin g th eutmost 
. Thomson,_who
relates these_particulars, was one of_his last_students;_he writes:--“I
never_listened_to any lectures_with so much_pleasure as to his;_and it
was the_elegant_simplicity of his manner, the perfect clearness of his
statements, and the vast quantity of_information_which he_contrived_in
this_way to communicate, that delighted_me.... His illustrations were
just sufficient_to answer_completely the object in view, and no more.”

Black’s_original_thesis for his_degree was entitled _Experiments upon
Magnesia Alba, Quicklime, and other_Alcaline Substances_. It was
published in 1755,_and several times_reprinted._It_is now to be_had in
a convenient form as one_of the “Alembic Club Reprints.”

It was_the custom in those days to administer_alkalies as a remedy
for urinary calculi;_and about the year 1750_lime-water was_tried as
a substitute. Opinion was_divided as regarded_its efficacy;_and it
was with_the view of preparing a better_remedy that Black_undertook
researches on magnesia alba. Black prepared_magnesia_from “bittern,”
which remains_in_the_pans after_the crystallisation of_salt_from
sea-water, and_also_from Epsom salts, “which is evidently_composed
of__magnesia_ and the vitriolic acid.” The magnesia_is thrown down
from the_sulphate_as carbonate, by the_addition of pearl ashes, at
the_temperature of ebullition, the soluble product_being “vitriolated
tartar,”_or potassium_sulphate. He describes how “magnesia is quickly
dissolved with effervescence or explosion_of air, by the acids of
vitriol,_nitre, and of common_salt, and_by_distilled vinegar,” and
gives_an_account of_the properties of the sulphate, nitrate, chloride,
and_acetate. He_subsequently heated this magnesia, and found_that it
lost “a remarkable_proportion_of its weight in the fire,”_and his
“attempts were directed to the_investigation of this volatile part.”
The_residue_in_the retort did not effervesce_on the addition of acids;
hence the_volatile part had_been driven away by the heat. “Chemists
have_often_observed, in their distillations, that part_of_the body has
vanished from their senses,_notwithstanding_the_utmost