[ Iviii ] 



Some of its qualities, by which it 

 may be known, are the following : 

 it is not abforbable by the contact of 

 water; the flame of a candle 

 plunged in it becomes larger, and 

 of the moil admirable brilliancy, fo 

 as to dazzle the eyes; red-hot 

 charcoal plunged in it becomes 

 mining and fparkling ; it is much 

 more diminifhed by nitrous air than 

 common air; it explodes, with an 

 uncommon loud report, when 

 mixed with a certain proportion of 

 inflammable air, or when a few 

 drops of good vitriolic aether are 

 poured in a vefTel containing this 

 air, as I difcovered. 



Fixed air is that kind of aerial 

 fluid which ifTues in abundance 

 from fermenting fubflances, and 

 which, in fome places, rifes out of 

 the ground by itfelf, as in the fa- 

 mous 



