







An&tyjts of the Air, 



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9 



« fermentation is (he fays) the motion of 

 « the air intercepted between the fluid and 

 <« vifcous parts of the fermenting liquor j 

 « but the caufe of putrefaction is fire it 

 « felf, collected or included within the 

 " putrefying fubject, Trocefs. 77." But I do 

 not fee why thefe may not rcafonably e- 

 nough be looked upon as the effects of dif- 

 ferent degrees of fermentation 5 nutrition 

 being the genuine effect of that degree of 

 it, in which the fum of the attracting ac- 

 tion of the particles is much fuperior to 

 the fum of their rcpulfive power : But wheri 

 their repelling force far exceeds their attrac- 

 tive, then the component parts of vegeta- 

 bles are diflblved. Which diflblvingfubftances, 

 when they are diluted with much liquor, do 

 not acquire a great heat in the diifolution, 

 the brisknefs of the inteftine motion being 

 checked by the liquor : But when they are 

 only moift, like green and damp Hay, in a 

 large heap, then they acquire a violent heat, 

 fo as to fcorch, burn and flame, whereby 

 the union of their conftituent parts being 

 more throughly diffolved, they will neither 

 produce a vinous, nor an acid fpirit : Which 

 great degree of folution may well be effected 



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