l8 A TREATISE ON THE CONNECTION OF 



WATER 



Is the fluid in which fishes hve, and forms part of 

 the support of plants, and of terrestrial animals, It was 

 formerly considered to be a simple uncompounded sub- 

 stance; but it has been discovered by Mr. Cavendish 

 to be a compound "body, consisting of the basis of in- 

 flammable air and vital air. It is formed naturally, and 

 artificially, by uniting the basis of inflammable air 

 Avith vital air, hy means of the eledtric fluid. 



Water is capable, under certain circumstances, of con- 

 taining, or uniting with, the bases of different gasses ; it 

 contains, for the most part, fixable air ; to which its 

 power of holding in solution calcareous matter, contained 

 in most water, is to be ascribed. 



Water, by putrefadion, and by the processes of ve- 

 getation and animahzation, is capable of being decom- 

 posed, or having its component parts separated. 



HEAT. 



