Anahjfis of the Air. 
event was, that we found fome fpoons full 
of water with the Mercury in the Alodals, 
which I then fufpefted to arife from the 
moifturo of the earthen retort and lute, and 
am now confirmed in that fufpicion. It rained 
inceffantly all the day, when I made this 
prefent Experiment ; fo that when water is 
obtained in the diftillation of Mercury-, it 
cannot be owing to a moifter temperature 
of the Air. 
The effe^s of Fermentation on the Air. 
H aving from the foregoing Experi- 
ments feen very evident proof of the 
production of confiderable quantities of true 
elaftick air, from liquors and folid bodies, 
by means of fire 5 we fhall find in the fol- 
lowing Experiments many inftances of the 
production 5 and alfo of the fixing or abforb- 
ing of great quantities of air by the fermen- 
tation arifing from the mixture of variety of 
folids and fluids : Which method of pro- 
ducing and of abforbing, and fixing the elaf- 
tick particles of air, by fermentation, feems 
to be more according to nature's ufual way 
©f proceeding, than the other of fire. 
Expe- 
