[ 4 ° 7 ] 
than an effect, or modification of bodies from a fub- 
ftance more or lefs abundant, but conftantly confin- 
ing of aqueous particles under different forms. This 
fubflanee, confidered in its utmofl extent and under 
all the appearances which it affumes in nature, p 
fhall exprefs by the Latin word humor. Thus ice, 
water in its different degrees of heat, hail, fnow, 
icicles, rain, dew, clouds, fog, miff , invifible vapours, 
are no more than modifications of this fame fub- 
ftance, -different fpecies of a determined genus ; fince 
aquofity, which is common to all, is its generic 
character. 
10. The more humor there is in any body, the 
more humid that body is j and confequently if it be 
plunged in water, and foaked fo as not to be able 
to receive any more, it is got to extreme humidity, 
the water which fills up all its pores being huihor in 
the higheft degree of intenfity. 
11. Not, however, but that difcrete humor, or* 
vapour of every kind, may in fome refpedts produce 
as great effedfs as concrete humor or water: but 
there is always fome difference in fome other refpedt, 
and chiefly in regard of time. Bodies encompaffed 
with air are continually difcharging, by evaporation, - 
part of the humor they imbibe from it. If the cir- 
cumftances are fuch, that the humedtation exceeds 
the evaporation, the body at length wets through *, 
more or lefs quickly as the quantity of humor which 
it receives in a given time is greater or lefs, and like- 
wife in proportion as this quantity exceeds that 
* By i netting here, I underftand arriving at the greateft de- 
gree of humidity. . * ; - 
• j ; * which 
