our afterwards, and not yellow at all if it is
protected from access of air in full bottles. I have already shown (Sec.
15) that the green precipitate of iron owes its colour to phlogiston
which still adheres to the earth, and it follows from this that
fire-air, although not in the elastic condition, is able to attract
phlogiston. The following experiment likewise shewed me that aquatic
animals take fire-air from the water. I placed a leech in a bottle which
was completely filled with water, and was protected from every kind of
air. After two days it was almost dead. I then examined the water in the
manner described above, and found that the earth of iron retained its
green colour. The swelling up of peas in cold water is to be ascribed
mainly to the fire-air present in the water. If a bottle is filled full
of water and a few peas are placed in it, after 24 hours the water
contains aerial acid it is true, but no fire-air. In water boiled and
become cold, peas swell up only a little. I perceive in this the reason
why the waters distilled from plants not only lose their smell, but why
also a mucilaginous substance settles to the bottom, when the bottles
are frequently opened, whereas the same waters, in perfectly full
bottles, retain their smell and clearness unchanged. All plants
communicate to water some mucilaginous material which is carried over
along with it. Fire-air is the chief cause of this corruption; if this
enters the water again, it attracts to itself the inflammable substance
from the subtle oily and mucilaginous matter, and alters the whole of
the water.

* * * * *

Transcriber's Note

All bold text has been surrounded by + signs. Italic text is
denoted by underscores.

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