510 2)r. Pefctvat on the ^ffe^s of Famine ^ ^c, 



in a given quantity of infedled air, a Trefh moufd 

 introduced amongft them, has prefently died iil 

 convulfions. 



The fame ingenious philofopher feems to hav^ 

 afcertained, that refpiration is a phlogidic pro- 

 cefsi that it is the office of the lungs to carry off 

 the putrid effluvium^ or to difcharge the phlo- 

 giftonj introduced into the fyftem with the 

 sliment, and become effete} and that the air 

 ■we breathe a6ts, on this occafion, as a mcnfiruumt 

 "We are alfo afTured, by an able chemift, that the 

 quantity of air, phlogifticated by a man in a 

 minute, is equal to that, which is phlogifticated 

 by a candle in the fame fpace of time. * Hence 

 it might be prefumed, that like fupplies of ac- 

 mofpheric air are effential to refpiration and 

 combuftion. But the experience of Travis 

 proves the facl to be otherwife. f And though 

 miners generally try the falubrity of the fubter- 

 raneous air, by the teft of a lighted candle, yet 

 we are informed by Mr. Keir, that he has feen 

 them working in the fhaft of a coal-pit, fcveral 

 yards below that part where the candle was ex- 

 tinguifhed. Indeed it was obferved by Mr* 

 Boyle, and has fince been confirmed by Dr* 

 Prieftley, that an animal will live nearly, if not 



* See Crawford on Animal Heat, p. 80. 

 f Dr. Prieftley informs me, that he has lately beftowed 

 particular attention on a kind of air, in which a candle 

 burns, but in which a moufe will not live. 



quite. 



