[ 483. 3 
lcterious Part of corrupted Bodies, from this Pi- 
ttance we may rather infer it to be a fort of Cor- 
rector of Putrefaction. 
3. Daily Experience fhews how harmlcfs the Vo- 
latiles are, both when fmelled to, or taken in Sub- 
ftance ; but ftill there remains a Prejudice, as if thefe 
Salts, being the Produce of Corruption, Ihould there- 
fore haften Putrefaction not only in Diftcmpers 
where thefe Salts are unwarily taken, but alfo in 
Experiments out of the Body. 
Now, as to the EfFeCts arifing from the internal 
Ufe of them, little can be faid, unlcfs the kind of 
Difeafe was precifely ftated. For, fuppoftng they 
were by their Nature difpofed to promote Putrefac- 
tion; yet if that is already begun, from a Languor 
of Circulation, and ObttruClion, then may the Vo- 
latiles, by their ftimulating and aperient Quality be 
the means of flopping its Progrefs : And, on the other 
hand, tho’ they were really antifeptic, yet if the 
Humours are difpofed to corrupt from Excefs of 
Heat or Motion, thefe very Salts, by adding to the 
Caufe, may augment the Difeafe. So that, upon the 
whole, it will be the faireft Criterion of the Nature 
of thefe Volatiles to enquire, whether out of the 
Body they accelerate or retard PutrefaClion. 
In order to decide this Queflion, I have made re- 
peated Experiments of joining both the Spirit and 
Salt of Hartfhorn to various animal Subftanccs; and 
have conftantly found, that, fo far from promoting, 
PutrefaClion, they have evidently hinder’d it; and 
that with a Power proportioned to their Quantity. 
The Trials have been made, with, the .Serum of the 
Blood, and alfo with jth z.CraJJawentiim, after it had 
,Qq.q been 
