Andyfis of the Air. 2 6 1 

 •When I reflecl on the great quantities of 

 claftick air, which are deftroyed by fulphu- 

 reous fumes ; it feems ro me not improba- 

 ble, that when an animal is killed by light- 

 ning without any vifible wound, or imrnc-' 

 diate ftroke, that it may be done by the air's 

 elasticity, being inftantly deftroyed by the 

 fulphureous lightning near the animal; 

 whereby the lungs will fall flat, and caufe 

 fudden death; which is further confirmed' 

 by the flatnefs of the lungs of animals thus 

 killed by lightning, their veficles being found 

 upon diffedion to be fallen flat, and to have 

 no air in them : The burfting alio of glafs- 

 windows outwards, feems to be from the 

 fame effeft of lightning on the air's elafti- 

 city. 



It is likewife by destroying the air's elafti- 

 city in fermented liquors, that lightning ren- 

 ders them flat and vapid: For fince fulphu- 

 reous fleams held near or under veffels will 

 check redundant fermentation, as well as the 

 putting of fulphureous mixtures into the li- 

 quor, it is plain, thofe fleams can eafily pe- 

 netrate the wood of the containing veffels. 

 No wonder then, that the more fubtile 

 lightnings mould have the like effects. I 



S 3 know 



