Analyjis of the Air. 285 



" Now thefe principles of fait, earth and 

 water, are inactive bodies, and of no ufe, 

 in the compofition of inflammable bodies, 

 but to detain and arreft the particles of lire, 

 which are the real and only matter of 

 <c flame. 



" It appears therefore to be the matter of 

 <c flame that the artift lofes in decompound- 

 <c ing inflammable bodies, Mem. de VAcad. 

 " anno 171 3." 



But by many of the preceding Experiments 

 it is evident, that the matter loft in the Ana- 

 lyfis of thefe bodies was elaftick air, a very 

 active principle in fire, but not an elemental 

 fire, as he fuppofes. 



Mr. Geoffrey compounded fulphur of 

 acid Salt, Bitumen, a little Earth, and Oil 

 o£ Tartar." Mem. de V Acad, anno 1703. 

 In which Oil of Tartar there is much air by 

 Experiment 74, which air was doubtlefs by 

 its elafticity very inftrumental in the inflam- 

 mability of this artificial fulphur. 



If Fire was a particular diftincl: kind of 

 body inherent in fulphur, as Mr. Homberg % 

 Mr. Lemery, and feme others imagine, then 

 fuch fulphureous bodies, when ignited, mould 

 rarefy and dilate all the circumambient air; 

 whereas it is found by many of the precede- 



ing 



cc 



