Anahjfis of the Air. x 8 y 
a Now thefe principles of fait, earth and 
water are inactive bodies, and of no ufe, 
“ in the compofition of inflammable bo- 
ic dies, but to detain and arreft the parti- 
“ cles of fire, which are the real and only 
cc matter of flame. 
It appears therefore to be the matter 
u of flame that the artift lofes in decom- 
pounding inflammable bodies, Mem . de 
“ i Acad . Anno 1713" 
But by many of the preceding Experi- 
ments, it is evident, that the matter loft 
in the Analyfis of thefe bodies was elaf- 
tick air, a very a&ive principle in fire, but 
not an elemental fire, as he fuppofes. 
u Mr. Geoffrey compounded fulphur of 
“ acid Salt, Bitumen, a little Earth and oil 
ic of Tartar !* Mem . de l 1 Acad . Anno 1703. 
In which oil of Tartar there is much air by 
Experiment 74, which air was doubdefs by 
its elafticity very inftrumental in the in- 
flammability of this artificial fulphur. 
If fire was a particular diftinft kind of body 
inherent in fulphur, as Mr. Homherg , Mr. . 
L emery, and fome others imagin, then fuch 
fulphureous bodies, when ignited, fhould 
rarify and dilate all the circumambient air; 
whereas it is found by many of the preced- 
