Anatyfc of the Air. 315 : 
particles are continually in great abundance 
reduced by the power of the ftrong attraders, 
from an elaftick to a fixt ftate ; it was there- 
fore neceflary that thefe particles Ihould be 
endued with a property of refuming their 
elaftick ftate, whenever they were difenga- 
ged from that mafs, in which they were 
fixed ; that thereby this beautiful frame of 
things might be maintained, in a continual 
round of the produdion and diflolation 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 diflolu- 
tion and corruption of the fame bodies, for 
it makes one in every fermenting mixture ; 
the adion and re-adion of the aereal and 
fulphureous 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- 
tion 
