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the breathing of fo many animals 

 which inhabit the furface of the 

 earth, and by many other caufes ; 

 as well as by pouring down a moft 

 beneficial fhower of purified or de- 

 phlogifticated air, which, difFufing 

 itfelf through the mafs of common 

 air, counteracts the general caufes, 

 tending to contaminate our atmo- 

 fphere, and to render it unfit for 

 the ufe of refpiration. I was lucky 

 enough to difcover that the vegeta- 

 tion itfelf of the plants has nothing 

 to do with the cleanfmg our atmo- 

 fphere ; but that this great work is 

 operated by the influence of the 

 fun's light, exciting and keeping up 

 the vital and inteftine motion of 

 thefe numberlefs fans, which the 

 moil part of plants difplay at once, 

 juft at the time when the general 



tendency 



