Analyfis of the Air. 247 

 fome of it, together with the acid fpirks, 

 with which the air abounds, are conveyed 

 to the blood, which we fee is by an admi- 

 rable contrivance there fpread into a vaft 

 expanfe, commenfurate to a very large fur- 

 face of air, from which it is parted by very 

 thin partitions ; fo very thin, as thereby pro- 

 bably to admit the blood and air-particles 

 (which are there continually changing from 

 an elaftick to a ftrongly attracting ftate) with- 

 in the reach of each other's attraction, where- 

 by a continued fucceffion of frefh air may be 

 abforbed by the blood. 



And in the Analyfis of the blood, either 

 by fire or fermentation in Exper. 49. and 80, 

 we find good plenty of particles ready to re- 

 fume the elaftick quality of air : But whe- 

 ther any of thefe air -particles enter the 

 blood by the lungs, is not eafy to deter- 

 mine ; becaufe there is certainly great ftore 

 of air in the food of animals, whether it be 

 vegetable or animal food. Yet, when we 

 confider how much air continually lofes its 

 elafticity in the lungs, which feem purpofely 

 framed into innumerable minute meanders, 

 that they may thereby the better feize and 

 bind that volatile Hermes : It makes it very 

 probable, that thofe particles which are now 



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