Anatyfis of the Air. i y 1 
the latter end of the minute, the fuffocating 
quality of the air in the bladder was greateft, 
it was with much difficulty that I could di- 
late my lungs a very little. 
From this property in the vapours arifing 
from animal bodies, to rebate &nd deftroy 
part of the elafticity of the air, a probable 
account may be given of what becomes of 
a redundant quantity of air, which may at 
any time have gotten into the cavity of 
the Thorax, either by a wound, or by 
fome defed in the fubftance of the lungs, 
or by very violent excrcife. Which if it 
was to continue always in that expanded 
ftate, would very much incommode refpi- 
ration, by hindering the dilatation of the 
lungs in infpiration. But if the vapours, 
which do continually arife in the cavity of 
the Thorax, deftroy fome part of the elaf- 
ticity of the air, then there will be room 
for the lungs to heave : And probably, it 
is in the fame manner that the winds arc 
' reforbed, which in their elaftick ftate fly 
| from one part of the body or limbs to an- 
other, caufing by their diftention of the 
} veftels much pain, 
-j 
Exes- 
