Analyfis of the Air. 243 



of k was loft 5 fo it was not abforbed by 

 the water : To make this tryal accurately, the 

 air muft be detained fome time under water, 

 to bring it firft to the fame temperature with 

 the water. Care alfo muft be taken in mak- 

 ing this Experiment, that the lungs be in the 

 fame degree of contra&ion, at the laft breath- 

 ing, as at the firft, elfe a confiderable error 

 may arife from thence. 



But tho' this be not an exaft eftimate, yet 

 it is evident from the foregoing Experiments 

 on refpiration, that fome of the elafticity of 

 the air, which is infpired, isdeftroyedj and 

 that chiefly among the veficles, where it is 

 moft loaded with vapours 5 whence probably 

 fome of it, together with the acid fpirits, 

 with which the air abounds, are conveyed: 

 to the blood, which we fee is by an admi- 

 rable contrivance there fpread into a vaft 

 expanfe, commenfurate to a very large fur- 

 face of air, from which it is parted by very" 

 thin partitions 5 fo very thin, as thereby 

 probably to admit the blood and air particles 

 ( which are there continually changing from 

 an elaftick to a ftrongly attra&ing ftate) 

 within the re&ch of each other's attraftion, 

 R % whereby 



