185 
might, a priori, be expected to be found in a body constituted 
under the particular circumstances which, it is presumed, directed 
its formation. 
In the first stage of the vinous fermentation, we perceive that a 
considerable portion of the more volatile parts of the mixture is 
dissipated; and that it is only by the careful preservation of the 
remainder that the accomplishment of this process is effected. In 
the acetous fermentation, this escape of the volatile parts is con- 
tinued through the whole of the process, and occasions the great 
difference which exists between the two products. In the first of 
these species of fermentation, carbon is, we have remarked, dis- 
sipated in very large quantities, by which its dose in the mixture 
must be considerably diminished ; whilst, should hydrogen even be 
supposed to escape in a similar proportion, still, from the decom 
position of the water, sufficient of this principle, which I will call 
the principle of inflammability, will be yielded, to assist in forming 
the spirituous and very inflammable product which we find to be 
the result of this process. In the latter of these species of fermen- 
tation, in which the dissipation of the volatile matters are carried 
to the utmost extent which the degree of temperature will admit, 
the mixture appears to be deprived of almost the whole of its hy- 
drogen ; except, perhaps, just so much as is left in combination with 
the colouring principle, and in the water, whilst the oxygen is freely 
attracted, by the carbon, from the atmosphere ; and froni its abun- 
dance, and from some peculiar modification in the combination, the 
product, vinegar, results, possessing a high degree of acidity, but 
not the least degree of inflammability. 
We will now examine the changes which may be expected to result 
from the decomposition of vegetable matters placed in subterranean 
situations, and considering these, with the properties which are pos- 
sessed by the supposed product of the bituminous fermentation, we 
VOL. I. B B 
