

. 



Analyfis of the Air, 



191 



Thatilluftrious Philofophcr Sir Ifaac New 

 ton, in his thoughts about the nature of a- 

 cids, gives this rational account of the na- 

 ture of fermentation. " The particles of 

 « acids — are endewed with a great attractive 

 « force, in which force their activity con- 

 " fills — By this attractive force they get 

 i( about the particles of bodies, whether 

 " they be of a mctallick or ftony nature, 

 " and adhere to them mod clofcly on all 

 " fides, fo that they can fcarce be feparated 

 " from them, by diftillation or fublimation 5 

 " when they are attracted and gathered to- 

 " gether about the particles of bodies, they 

 " raife, disjoyn, and fhake them one from 

 " another, that is, they diffolve thofe bodies. 



" By their attractive force alfo, by which 

 " they rulh towards the particles of bodies, 

 " they move the fluid, and excite heat, and 

 u they fhake afunder fome particles, fo much 

 " as to turn them into air, and generate 

 " bubbles : And this is the reafon of diflb- 

 " lution, and all violent fermentation. Har~ 

 I* ris Lexicon Tech. Vol. II. introduaion." 



Thus we have from thefe Experiments 

 many manifeft proofs of confiderable quan- 

 tities of true permanent air, which are by 



U 2 means 



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