314 Analyfis of the Air. 
endued with a property of refuming their 
elaftick ftatc, whenever they were difenga- 
ged from that mafs, in which they were 
fixed 5 that thereby this beautiful frame of 
things might be maintained, in a continual 
round of the produdion and diflblution of 
animal and vegetable bodies. 
The air is very inftrumental in the pro- 
dudion and growth of animals and vegeta- 
bles, both by invigorating their feveral juices, 
while in an elaftick adive ftate, and alfo by 
greatly contributing in a fix'd ftate to the 
union and firm connedion of the feveral 
conftituent parts of thofe bodies, viz, their 
water, fait, fulphur and earth. This band of 
union, in conjundion with the external air, 
is alfo a very powerful agent in the diflblu- 
tion and corruption of the fame bodies, for 
it makes one in every fermenting mixture- 
the adion and rc-adion of the aereal and ful- 
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 adion and re-ac- 
adion of the fame principles, in fuel and the 
ambient air, that common culinary fires are 
produced and maintained. 
Tho’ 
