Analyjis of the Air. 251 



lity of the air in the bladder was greateft, it 

 was with much difficulty that I could dilate 

 my lungs a very little. 



From this property in the vapours arife- 

 ing from animal bodies, to rebate and de- 

 ftroy part of the elaflicity of the air, a pro- 

 bable account may be given of what be- 

 comes of a redundant quantity of air, which 

 may at any time have gotten into the cavity 

 of the T'horaXy either by a wound, or by 

 fome defect in the fubftance of the lungs, 

 or by very violent exerclfe. Which, if it 

 was to continue always in that expanded 

 ftate, would very much incommode refpi- 

 ration, by hindering the dilatation of the 

 lungs in infpiration. But if the vapours, 

 which do continually arife in the cavity of 

 the thorax, deftroy fome part of the elafli- 

 city of the air, then there will be room for 

 the lungs to heave : And probably, it is in 

 the fame manner that the winds are reforb- 

 ed, which, in their elaftick ftate, fly from 

 one part of the body or limbs to another, 

 caufing by their di Ltention of the veiTels much 

 pain. 



Expe- 



