3S4 Mr. Cavendish's Experiments on Air, 



by almoft half, nnd I believe might have been ftill further di- 

 niinifhed, had the fpark been continued. When lime-water 

 was let np into the tube, a cloud was formed, and the air was 

 further dlminiOied by about one-fifth. The remaining air was 

 good dephlogifticated air. In this experiment, therefore, the 

 litmus was, if not burnt,, at leaft decompounded, fo as to lofe 

 entirely its purple colour, and to yield fixed air ; fo that, though 

 foap'lees cannot be decompounded by this procefs, yet the folu- 

 tion of litmus can, and fo very likely might the folutions of 

 many other com.buflible fubflances. But there is nothing, in. ^ny 

 of thefe experiments, which favours the opinion of the air being 

 at all diminifhed by means of phlogifton comno^unicated to it 

 by the ele6lric fpark. 



