185 



might, d priori, be expected to be found in a body constituted under 

 the particular circumstances which I have presumed to have directed 

 its formation. 



In the first stage of the vinous fermentation, we perceive that a 

 considerable portion of the more volatile parts of the mixture is 

 dissipated ; and that it is only by the careful preservation of the 

 remainder that the accomplishment of this process is effected. In 

 the acetous fermentation, this escape of the volatile parts is conti- 

 nued through the whole of the process, and occasions the great 

 difference which exists between the two products. In the first of 

 these species of fermentation, carbon is, we have remarked, dissi- 

 pated in very large quantities, by which its dose in the mixture 

 must be considerably diminished ; whilst, should hydrogen even 

 be supposed to escape in a similar proportion, still, from the decom- 

 position of the water, sufficient of this principle, which I will call 

 the principle of inflammability, will be yielded, to assist in forming 

 the spirituous and very inflammable product which we find to be 

 the result of this process. In the latter of these species of fermen- 

 tations, in which the dissipation of the volatile matters are carried 

 to the utmost extent which the degree of temperature will admit, 

 the mixture appears to be deprived of almost the whole of its hy- 

 drogen ; except, perhaps, just so much as is left in combination 

 with the colouring principle, and in the water, whilst the oxygen is 

 freely attracted, by the carbon, from the atmosphere; and from its 

 abundance, and from some peculiar modification in the combi- 

 nation, the product, vinegar , results, possessing a high degree of 

 acidity, but not the least degree of inflammability. 



We will now examine the changes which may be expected to 

 result from the decomposition of vegetable matters placed in sub- 

 terranean situations, and considering these, with the properties 

 which are possessed by the supposed product of the bituminous 



VOL. I. BB 



