Analyjis of the Air. 3 1 5 



are continually in great abundance reduced 

 by the power of the ftrong attraCters, from an 

 elaftick to a fixt ftate ; it was therefore ne- 

 cefTary, that thefe particles fhould be endued 

 with a property of refuming their elaftick 

 ftate, whenever they were difengaged from 

 that mafs in which they were fixt, that thereby 

 this beautiful frame of things might be main- 

 tained in a continual round of the produ- 

 ction and diffolution of animal and vegetable 

 bodies. 



The air is very inftrumental in the pro- 

 duction and growth of animals and vegeta- 

 bles, both by invigorating their feveral juices 

 while in an elaftick aCtive ftate, and alfo by 

 greatly contributing in a fix'd ftate to the 

 union and firm connection of the feveral con- 

 ftituent parts of thofe bodies, viz, their wa- 

 ter, fait, fulphur, and earth. This band of 

 union, in conjunction with the external air, 

 is alfo a very powerful agent in the diffolu- 

 ticn and corruption of the fame bodies; for 

 it makes one in every fermenting mixture ; 

 the aCtion and re-aCtion of the aereal and fal- 

 phureous particles is, in many fermenting 

 mixtures, fo great, as to excite a burning 

 heat, and in others a fudden flame : And it 

 is, we fee, by the like aCtion and re-aCtion 



of 



