[ 554 1 
patted over, without making any particular Experi- 
ment on thofe Heads. Lord Bacon *, as well as 
fome of the Chemifts, has hinted at a putrid Fer- 
mentation, analogous to what is found in Vegetables; 
and this having fo near a Connexion with Conta- 
gion, I made the following Experiment, for a fur- 
ther Illuftration of this Matter. 
f. In the Yolk of an Egg, already putrid, a fmali 
Thread was dipped, and a fmali Bit of this was cut off 
and put into a Phial, with Half of the Yolk of a new- 
laid Egg diluted with Water. The other Half, with 
as much Water, was put into another Phial, and both 
being corked, were fet by the Fire to putrefy. The 
Refult was, that the Thread infeCted the frefh Yolk ; 
for the Putrefaction was fooner perceived in the Phial 
that contained it, than in the other. But this Ex- 
periment was not repeated. 
In this manner the Putrefaction of Meat advances 
quicker in a confined than a free Air ; for, as the 
mod putrid Parrs are alfo the mod fugitive ; they 
inceffantly ifiiic from a corruptible Subftance, and 
difperfe with the Wind; but in a Stagnation of Air, 
they remain about the Body; and by way of Fer- 
ment excite it to Corruption. 
6. As for other Septics, recited by Authors, I 
found none of them anfwer the Purpofe. The al- 
caline Salts have been confider’d as the chief Putre- 
fiers. But this is difproved by Experiments. Of the 
Volatiles it may be indeed obferved, that, tho’ they 
preferve from the common Marks of Putrefaction, 
with 
• Vide Nat, Hiji , Cent. JV. E*per. 33$, 
