Hk CONFINED IN STAGNANT AiR. 84 
by heat than cold? Whence arifes the difference 
of time in the death of animals? Why may one 
quantity ‘of air be noxious to one fpecies of ani- 
mals and indifferent to another? The folution 
of thefe problems depends on our knowledge of 
the caufe of death in ftagnant air. This ancient 
and moft famous queftion has always divided ce- 
lebrated modern philofophers. It is important 
to enter on the difcuffion of it; and I fhall ex- 
amine what has been already written on the fub- 
ject, and adopt that opinion which to me feems 
moft confiftent with facts, that is, with truth. 
Since the eggs of animals, and feeds of plants, in 
a {mall quantity of air, remain fterile, I fhall not 
fail to add a fhort fentence or two on the caufe 
of their fterility. 
CHAP. Il. 
TWO PRINCIPAL OPINIONS ON THE CAUSE OF ANI- 
MALS DYING. IN STAGNANT AIR.—WHETHER IT 
LIES IN THE DIMINISHED ELASTICITY OF THE AIR. 
"[wo phenomena have been remarked by thofe 
who have killed animals in clofe veflels; f,r/, 
That a quantity of vapour, exhaled from the ani- 
F 2 mal, 
