per to imbibe its Acid, as to have no Power of diſſolving this Metal at all. Nor is this latent Acid peculiar to the expreſſed Oils alone; thoſe procured by Diſtillation evidently contain it alſo, as the excellent Dr. Hoffman has proved, who by grinding the diſtilled Oils of Lavender and Turpentine with Salt of Tartar, obtained thence a neutral Salt.
Wax, in like Manner, diſſolves Copper no otherwiſe than by a true, genuine, and pretty ſharp Acid, which it evidently contains, and which is eaſily ſeparated from it by Diſtillation with a very gentle Heat. And in regard to Water, it may not be improper to obſerve, that though it is but a poor Diſſolvent of Metals with us, yet it may in the Bowels of the Earth, do Wonders: For we find evidently, that the Power of Water, as a Menſtruum, depends, in many Caſes, exactly on its Degree of Heat; and as it is capable of the greater Heat, the greater Weight of the Atmoſphere it is preſſed by, we know not to what Height its Heat and diſſolving Power may be raiſed at great Depths in the Earth.
Of the mineral acid Menſtruums, Spirit of Sea-ſalt, Spirit of Nitre, and Agua regia, all afford green Solutions of Copper, but with this Difference, that the Spirit of Salt gives a yellowiſh Green; the Spirit of Nitre a deep Green, with no Yellowneſs at all; and the Agua regia, a bright vivid Green, but there is ſome Admixture of Yellow in it, about in the ſame Meaſure that it is in ſome of the Gems which
Pliny
