i6t Analyjis of the Ah. 



know not whether the common practice of 

 laying a bar of iron on a veiTel, be a good 

 prefervative againft the ill effects of lightning 

 on liquors. I mould think, that the cover- 

 ing a veffel with a large cloth dipped in a 

 ftrong brine, would be a better prefervative • 

 for falts are known to be ftrong attracters of 

 fulphur. 



The certain death which comes on the 

 explofion of Mines, feems to be effected in 

 the fame manner : For though at firft there 

 J s a great expanfion of the air, which muft 

 dilate the lungs, yet that air is no fooner 

 filled with fuliginous vapours, but a good 

 deal of its elaflicity is immediately deftroyed : 

 As in the cafe of burning Matches in Expe- 

 riment 103. the heat of the flame at firft 

 expanded the air ; but notwithftanding the 

 flame continued burning, it immediately con- 

 tracted, and loft much of its elaflicity, as 

 foon as fome quantity of fulphureous fleams 

 afcended in it. 



Which fleams have doubtlefs the fame 

 effect on the air, in the lungs of animals held 

 over them, as in the Grotto di cani, or when 

 a clofe room is filled with them,, where they 

 certainly fuffocate, 



I 



