,,discovery ,,of ,,oxygen  ,,part #b    
,,experiments ,,by  ,,carl ,,wilhelm    
,,scheele  7#aggg7  ,re issue ,edition3 
,published for ,,the ,,alembic ,,club   
,,by  ,e4  ,s4 ,,livingstone ,,ltd4  #af
  #ag ,,teviot ,,place  ,,edinburgh     
#aifd  ,illustration     ,,preface      
,the portions of ,scheele's ,chemical   
,treatise on ,air and ,fire here        
reproduced in ,english are intended to  
form a companion volume to ,no4 #g of   
the ,club ,reprints1 which contains     
,priestley's account of his discovery of
 oxygen4 ,not only have the claims of   
,scheele to the independent discovery of
 this gas never been disputed1 but the  
valuable volume of ,letters and         
,memoranda of ,scheele1 edited by       
,nordenskjoeld1 which was published in  
#ahib1 places it beyond doubt that      
,scheele had obtained oxygen by more    
than one method at least as early as    
,priestley's first isolation of the gas1
 although his printed account of the    
discovery only appeared about two years 

after ,priestley's4 ,the evidence of    
this has been found in ,scheele's       
laboratory notes1 which are still       
preserved in the ,royal ,academy of     
,science in ,stockholm4  ,in his        
,chemical ,treatise ,scheele endeavours1
 at considerable length1 to prove by    
experiments his views as to the compound
 character of heat and of light4 ,these 
portions of the work have been entirely 
omitted from what is reproduced here4   
,all the places where omissions have    
been made are indicated4  ,every care   
has been taken in the endeavour to make 
the translation a faithful reproduction 
of the meaning of the original1 whilst  
literal accuracy has been aimed at      
rather than literary elegance4  ,l4 ,d4 
,,chemical ,,treatise ,,on ,,air ,,and  
,,fire4,a   #a4 ,it is the object and   
chief business of chemistry to skilfully
 separate substances into their         
constituents1 to discover their         
properties1 and to compound them in     
different ways4  ,how difficult it is1  

however1 to carry out such operations   
with the greatest accuracy1 can only be 
unknown to one who either has never     
undertaken this occupation1 or at least 
has not done so with sufficient         
attention4   #b4 ,hitherto chemical     
investigators are not agreed as to how  
many elements or fundamental materials  
compose all substances4 ,in fact this is
 one of the most difficult problems2    
some indeed hold that there remains no  
further hope of searching out the       
elements of substances4 ,poor comfort   
for those who feel their greatest       
pleasure in the investigation of natural
 things6 ,far is he mistaken1 who       
endeavours to confine chemistry1 this   
noble science1 within such narrow       
bounds6 ,others believe that earth and  
phlogiston are the things from which all
 material nature has derived its origin4
 ,the majority seem completely attached 
to the peripatetic elements4   #c4 ,i   
must admit that ,i have bestowed no     
little trouble upon this matter in order

 to obtain a clear conception of it4    
,one may reasonably be amazed at the    
numerous ideas and conjectures which    
authors have recorded on the subject1   
especially when they give a decision    
respecting the fiery phenomenon2 and    
this very matter was of the greatest    
importance to me4 ,i perceived the      
necessity of a knowledge of fire1       
because without this it is not possible 
to make any experiment2 and without fire
 and heat it is not possible to make use
 of the action of any solvent4 ,i began 
accordingly to put aside all            
explanations of fire2 ,i undertook a    
multitude of experiments in order to    
fathom this beautiful phenomenon as     
fully as possible4 ,i soon found1       
however1 that one could not form any    
true judgment regarding the phenomena   
which fire presents1 without a knowledge
 of the air4 ,i saw1 after carrying out 
a series of experiments1 that air really
 enters into the mixture of fire1 and   
with it forms a constituent of flame and

 of sparks4 ,i learned accordingly that 
a treatise like this1 on fire1 could not
 be drawn up with proper completeness   
without taking the air also into        
consideration4  ,footnote ,a3 ,carl     
,wilhelm ,scheele's ,chemische          
,abhandlung von der ,luft und dem       
,feuer4 ,upsala and ,leipzig1 #aggg4    
#d4 ,air is that fluid invisible        
substance which we continually breathe1 
which surrounds the whole surface of the
 earth1 is very elastic1 and possesses  
weight4 ,it is always filled with an    
astonishing quantity of all kinds of    
exhalations1 which are so finely        
subdivided in it that they are scarcely 
visible even in the sun's rays4 ,water  
vapours always have the preponderance   
amongst these foreign particles4 ,the   
air1 however1 is also mixed with another
 elastic substance resembling air1 which
 differs from it in numerous properties1
 and is1 with good reason1 called aerial
 acid by ,professor ,bergman4 ,it owes  
its presence to organised bodies1       

destroyed by putrefaction or combustion4
   #e4 ,nothing has given philosophers  
more trouble for some years than just   
this delicate acid or so called fixed   
air4 ,indeed it is not surprising that  
the conclusions which one draws from the
 properties of this elastic acid are not
 favourable to all who are prejudiced by
 previously conceived opinions4 ,these  
defenders of the ,paracelsian doctrine  
believe that the air is in itself       
unalterable2 and1 with ,hales1 that it  
really unites with substances thereby   
losing its elasticity2 but that it      
regains its original nature as soon as  
it is driven out of these by fire or    
fermentation4 ,but since they see that  
the air so produced is endowed with     
properties quite different from common  
air1 they conclude1 without experimental
 proofs1 that this air has united with  
foreign materials1 and that it must be  
purified from these admixed foreign     
particles by agitation and filtration   
with various liquids4 ,i believe that   

there would be no hesitation in         
accepting this opinion1 if one could    
only demonstrate clearly by experiments 
that a given quantity of air is capable 
of being completely converted into fixed
 or other kind of air by the admixture  
of foreign materials2 but since this has
 not been done1 ,i hope ,i do not err if
 ,i assume as many kinds of air as      
experiment reveals to me4 ,for when ,i  
have collected an elastic fluid1 and    
observe concerning it that its expansive
 power is increased by heat and         
diminished by cold1 while it still      
uniformly retains its elastic fluidity1 
but also discover in it properties and  
behaviour different from those of common
 air1 then ,i consider myself justified 
in believing that this is a peculiar    
kind of air4 ,i say that air thus       
collected must retain its elasticity    
even in the greatest cold1 because      
otherwise an innumerable multitude of   
varieties of air would have to be       
assumed1 since it is very probable that 

all substances can be converted by      
excessive heat into a vapour resembling 
air4   #f4 ,substances which are        
subjected to putrefaction or to         
destruction by means of fire diminish1  
and at the same time consume1 a part of 
the air2 sometimes it happens that they 
perceptibly increase the bulk of the    
air1 and sometimes finally that they    
neither increase nor diminish a given   
quantity of air2 phenomena which are    
certainly remarkable4 ,conjectures can  
here determine nothing with certainty1  
at least they can only bring small      
satisfaction to a chemical philosopher1 
who must have his proofs in his hands4  
,who does not see the necessity of      
making experiments in this case1 in     
order to obtain light concerning this   
secret of nature8   #g4 ,general        
properties of ordinary air4  7#a47 ,fire
 must burn for a certain time in a given
 quantity of air4 7#b47 ,if1 so far as  
can be seen1 this fire does not produce 
during combustion any fluid resembling  

air1 then1 after the fire has gone out  
of itself1 the quantity of air must be  
diminished between a third and a fourth 
part4 7#c47 ,it must not unite with     
common water4 7#d47 ,all kinds of       
animals must live for a certain time in 
a confined quantity of air4 7#e47       
,seeds1 as for example peas1 in a given 
quantity of similarly confined air1 must
 strike roots and attain a certain      
height with the aid of some water and of
 a moderate heat4  ,consequently1 when  
,i have a fluid resembling air in its   
external appearance1 and find that it   
has not the properties mentioned1 even  
when only one of them is wanting1 ,i    
feel convinced that it is not ordinary  
air4   #h4 ,air must be composed of     
elastic fluids of two kinds4  ,first    
,experiment4--,i dissolved one ounce of 
alkaline liver of sulphur in eight      
ounces of water2 ,i poured #d ounces of 
this solution into an empty bottle      
capable of holding #bd ounces of water1 
and closed it most securely with a cork2

 ,i then inverted the bottle and placed 
the neck in a small vessel with water2  
in this position ,i allowed it to stand 
for #ad days4 ,during this time the     
solution had lost a part of its red     
colour and had also deposited some      
sulphur3 afterwards ,i took the bottle  
and held it in the same position in a   
larger vessel with water1 so that the   
mouth was under and the bottom above the
 water-level1 and withdrew the cork     
under the water2 immediately water rose 
with violence into the bottle4 ,i closed
 the bottle again1 removed it from the  
water1 and weighed the fluid which it   
contained4 ,there were #aj ounces4      
,after subtracting from this the #d     
ounces of solution of sulphur there     
remain #f ounces1 consequently it is    
apparent from this experiment that of   
#bj parts of air #f parts have been lost
 in #ad days4   #i4 ,second             
,experiment4--7a47 ,i repeated the      
preceding experiment with the same      
quantity of liver of sulphur1 but with  

this difference that ,i only allowed the
 bottle to stand a week1 tightly closed4
 ,i then found that of #bj parts of air 
only #d had been lost4 7b47 ,on another 
occasion ,i allowed the very same bottle
 to stand #d months2 the solution still 
possessed a somewhat dark yellow colour4
 ,but no more air had been lost than in 
the first experiment1 that is to say #f 
parts4   #aj4 ,third ,experiment4--,i   
mixed #b ounces of caustic ley1 which   
was prepared from alkali of tartar and  
unslaked lime and did not precipitate   
lime water1 with half an ounce of the   
preceding solution of sulphur which     
likewise did not precipitate lime water4
 ,this mixture had a yellow colour4 ,i  
poured it into the same bottle1 and     
after this had stood #ad days1 well     
closed1 ,i found the mixture entirely   
without colour and also without         
precipitate4 ,i was enabled to conclude 
that the air in this bottle had likewise
 diminished1 from the fact that air     
rushed into the bottle with a hissing   

sound after ,i had made a small hole in 
the cork4   #aa4 ,fourth                
,experiment4--7a47 ,i took #d ounces of 
a solution of sulphur in lime water2 ,i 
poured this solution into a bottle and  
closed it tightly4 ,after #ad days the  
yellow colour had disappeared1 and of   
#bj parts of air #d parts had been lost4
 ,the solution contained no sulphur1 but
 had allowed a precipitate to fall which
 was chiefly gypsum4 7b47 ,volatile     
liver of sulphur likewise diminishes the
 bulk of air4 7c47 ,sulphur1 however1   
and volatile spirit of sulphur1 undergo 
no alteration in it4   #ab4 ,fifth      
,experiment4--,i hung up over burning   
sulphur1 linen rags which were dipped in
 a solution of alkali of tartar4 ,after 
the alkali was saturated with the       
volatile acid1 ,i placed the rags in a  
flask1 and closed the mouth most        
carefully with a wet bladder4 ,after #c 
weeks had elapsed ,i found the bladder  
strongly pressed down2 ,i inverted the  
flask1 held its mouth in water1 and made

 a hole in the bladder2 thereupon water 
rose with violence into the flask and   
filled the fourth part4   #ac4 ,sixth   
,experiment4--,i collected in a bladder 
the nitrous air which arises on the     
dissolution of the metals in nitrous    
acid1 and after ,i had tied the bladder 
tightly ,i laid it in a flask and       
secured the mouth very carefully with a 
wet bladder4 ,the nitrous air gradually 
lost its elasticity1 the bladder        
collapsed1 and became yellow as if      
corroded by aqua fortis4 ,after #ad days
 ,i made a hole in the bladder tied over
 the flask1 having previously held it1  
inverted1 under water2 the water rose   
rapidly into the flask1 and it remained 
only #b_/c empty4   #ad4 ,seventh       
,experiment4--7a47 ,i immersed the mouth
 of a flask in a vessel with oil of     
turpentine4 ,the oil rose in the flask a
 few lines every day4 ,after the lapse  
of #ad days the fourth part of the flask
 was filled with it2 ,i allowed it to   
stand for #c weeks longer1 but the oil  

did not rise higher4 ,all those oils    
which dry in the air1 and become        
converted into resinous substances1     
possess this property4 ,oil of          
turpentine1 however1 and linseed oil    
rise up sooner if the flask is          
previously rinsed out with a            
concentrated sharp ley4 7b47 ,i poured  
#b ounces of colourless and transparent 
animal oil of ,dippel into a bottle and 
closed it very lightly2 after the expiry
 of two months the oil was thick and    
black4 ,i then held the bottle1         
inverted1 under water and drew out the  
cork2 the bottle immediately became     
#a_/d filed with water4   #ae4 ,eighth  
,experiment4--7a47 ,i dissolved #b      
ounces of vitriol of iron in #cb ounces 
of water1 and precipitated this solution
 with a caustic ley4 ,after the         
precipitate had settled1 ,i poured away 
the clear fluid and put the dark green  
precipitate of iron so obtained1        
together with the remaining water1 into 
the before-mentioned bottle 7,sec4 #h71 

and closed it tightly4 ,after #ad days  
7during which time ,i shook the bottle  
frequently71 this green calx of iron had
 acquired the colour of crocus of iron1 
and of #dj parts of air #ab had been    
lost4 7b47 ,when iron filings are       
moistened with some water and preserved 
for a few weeks in a well closed bottle1
 a portion of the air is likewise lost4 
7c47 ,the solution of iron in vinegar   
has the same effect upon air4 ,in this  
case the vinegar permits the dissolved  
iron to fall out in the form of a yellow
 crocus1 and becomes completely deprived
 of this metal4 7d47 ,the solution of   
copper prepared in closed vessels with  
spirit of salt likewise diminishes air4 
,in none of the foregoing kinds of air  
can either a candle burn or the smallest
 spark glow4   #af4 ,it is seen from    
these experiments that phlogiston1 the  
simple inflammable principle1 is present
 in each of them4 ,it is known that the 
air strongly attracts to itself the     
inflammable part of substances and      

deprives them of it3 not only this may  
be seen from the experiments cited1 but 
it is at the same time evident that on  
the transference of the inflammable     
substance to the air a considerable part
 of the air is lost4 ,but that the      
inflammable substance,b alone is the    
cause of this action1 is plain from     
this1 that1 according to the #ajth      
paragraph1 not the least trace of       
sulphur remains over1 since1 according  
to my experiments this colourless ley   
contains only some vitriolated tartar4  
,the #aath paragraph likewise shews     
this4 ,but since sulphur alone1 and also
 the volatile spirit of sulphur1 have no
 effect upon the air 7,sec4 #aa4 c471 it
 is clear that the decomposition of     
liver of sulphur takes place according  
to the laws of double affinity1--that is
 to say1 that the alkalies and lime     
attract the vitriolic acid1 and the air 
attracts the phlogiston4  ,footnote ,b3 
,das ,brennbare4  ,it may also be seen  
from the above experiments1 that a given

 quantity of air can only unite with1   
and at the same time saturate1 a certain
 quantity of the inflammable substance3 
this is evident from the #ith paragraph1
 letter b4 ,but whether the phlogiston  
which was lost by the substances was    
still present in the air left behind in 
the bottle1 or whether the air which was
 lost had united and fixed itself with  
the materials such as liver of sulphur1 
oils1 c41 are questions of importance4  
,from the first view1 it would          
necessarily follow that the inflammable 
substance possessed the property of     
depriving the air of part of its        
elasticity1 and that in consequence of  
this it becomes more closely compressed 
by the external air4 ,in order now to   
help myself out of these uncertainties1 
,i formed the opinion that any such air 
must be specifically heavier than       
ordinary air1 both on account of its    
containing phlogiston and also of its   
greater condensation4 ,but how perplexed
 was ,i when ,i saw that a very thin    

flask which was filled with this air1   
and most accurately weighed1 not only   
did not counterpoise an equal quantity  
of ordinary air1 but was even somewhat  
lighter4 ,i then thought that the latter
 view might be admissible2 but in that  
case it would necessarily follow also   
that the lost air could be separated    
again from the materials employed4 ,none
 of the experiments cited seemed to me  
capable of shewing this more clearly    
than that according to the #ajth        
paragraph1 because this residuum1 as    
already mentioned1 consists of          
vitriolated tartar and alkali4 ,in order
 therefore to see whether the lost air  
had been converted into fixed air1 ,i   
tried whether the latter shewed itself  
when some of the caustic ley was poured 
into lime water2 but in vain--no        
precipitation took place4 ,indeed1 ,i   
tried in several ways to obtain the lost
 air from this alkaline mixture1 but as 
the results were similar to the         
foregoing1 in order to avoid prolixity  

,i shall not cite these experiments4    
,thus much ,i see from the experiments  
mentioned1 that the air consists of two 
fluids1 differing from each other1 the  
one of which does not manifest in the   
least the property of attracting        
phlogiston1 while the other1 which      
composes between the third and the      
fourth part of the whole mass of the    
air1 is peculiarly disposed to such     
attraction4 ,but where this latter kind 
of air has gone to after it has united  
with the inflammable substance1 is a    
question which must be decided by       
further experiments1 and not by         
conjectures4  ,we shall now see how the 
air behaves towards inflammable         
substances when they get into fiery     
motion4 ,we shall first consider that   
kind of fire which does not give out    
during the combustion any fluid         
resembling air4   #ag4 ,first           
,experiment4--,i placed #i grains of    
phosphorus from urine in a thin flask1  
which was capable of holding #cj ounces 

of water1 and closed its mouth very     
tightly4 ,i then heated1 with a burning 
candle1 the part of the flask where the 
phosphorus lay2 the phosphorus began to 
melt1 and immediately afterwards took   
fire2 the flask became filled with a    
white cloud1 which attached itself to   
the sides like white flowers2 this was  
the dry acid of phosphorus4 ,after the  
flask had become cold again1 ,i held it1
 inverted1 under water and opened it2   
scarcely had this been done when the    
external air pressed water into the     
flask2 this water amounted to #i ounces4
   #ah4 ,second ,experiment4--,when ,i  
placed pieces of phosphorus in the same 
flask and allowed it to stand1 closed1  
for #f weeks1 or until it no longer     
glowed1 ,i found that #a_/c of the air  
had been lost4   #ai4 ,third            
,experiment4--,i placed #c teaspoonfuls 
of iron filings in a bottle capable of  
holding #b ounces of water2 to this ,i  
added an ounce of water1 and gradually  
mixed with them half an ounce of oil of 

vitriol4 ,a violent heating and         
fermentation took place4 ,when the froth
 had somewhat subsided1 ,i fixed into   
the bottle an accurately fitting cork1  
through which ,i had previously fixed a 
glass tube ,a 7,fig4 #a74 ,i placed this
 bottle in a vessel filled with hot     
water1 ,b ,b 7cold water would greatly  
retard the solution74 ,i then approached
 a burning candle to the orifice of the 
tube1 whereupon the inflammable air took
 fire and burned with a small           
yellowish-green flame4 ,as soon as this 
had taken place1 ,i took a small flask  
,c1 which was capable of holding #bj    
ounces of water1 and held it so deep in 
the water that the little flame stood in
 the middle of the flask4 ,the water at 
once began to rise gradually into the   
flask1 and when the level had reached   
the point ,d the flame went out4        
,immediately afterwards the water began 
to sink again1 and was entirely driven  
out of the flask4 ,the space in the     
flask up to ,d contained #d ounces1     

therefore the fifth part of the air had 
been lost4 ,i poured a few ounces of    
lime water into the flask in order to   
see whether any aerial acid had also    
been produced during the combustion1 but
 ,i did not find any4 ,i made the same  
experiment with zinc filings1 and it    
proceeded in every way similarly to that
 just mentioned4 ,i shall demonstrate   
the constituents of this inflammable air
 further on2 for1 although it seems to  
follow from these experiments that it is
 only phlogiston1 still other           
experiments are contrary to this4  ,we  
shall now see the behaviour of air      
towards that kind of fire which gives   
off1 during the combustion1 a fluid     
resembling air4  ,illustration3 ,fig4   
#a4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #b4           
,illustration3 ,fig4 #c4  ,illustration3
 ,fig4 #d4  ,illustration3 ,fig4 #e4    
#bj4 ,fourth ,experiment4--,it is well  
known that the flame of a candle absorbs
 air2 but as it is very difficult1 and1 
indeed1 scarcely possible1 to light a   

candle in a closed flask1 the following 
experiment was made in the first        
place3--,i set a burning candle in a    
dish full water2 ,i then placed an      
inverted flask over this candle2 at once
 there arose from the water large air   
bubbles1 which were caused by the       
expansion1 by heat1 of the air in the   
flask4 ,when the flame became somewhat  
smaller1 the water began to rise in the 
flask2 after it had gone out and the    
flask had become cold1 ,i found the     
fourth part filled with water4 ,this    
experiment was very undecisive to me1   
because ,i was not assured whether this 
fourth part of the air had not been     
driven out by the heat of the flame2    
since necessarily in that case the      
external air resting upon the water     
seeks equilibrium again after the flask 
has become cold1 and presses the same   
measure of water into the flask as of   
air had been previously driven out by   
the heat4 ,accordingly1 ,i made the     
following experiment3   #ba4 ,fifth     

,experiment4--7a47 ,i pressed upon the  
bottom of the dish ,a 7,fig4 #b7 a tough
 mass1 of the thickness of two fingers1 
made of wax1 resin1 and turpentine metal
 together2 in the middle ,i fastened a  
thick iron wire which reached to the    
middle of the flask ,b2 upon the point  
of this wire ,c1 ,i stuck a small wax   
candle1 whose wick ,i had twisted       
together out of three slender threads4  
,i then lighted the candle1 and at the  
same time placed over it the inverted   
flask ,b1 which ,i then pressed very    
deep into the mass4 ,as soon as this was
 done1 ,i filled the dish with water4   
,after the flame was extinguished and   
everything had become quite cold1 ,i    
opened the flask in the same position   
under the water1 when #b ounces of water
 entered2 the flask held #afj ounces of 
water4 ,accordingly1 there is wanting   
here so much air as occupies the space  
of #b ounces of water4 ,has this air    
been absorbed by the inflammable        
substance1 or has the heat of the small 

flame driven it out even before ,i could
 press the flask into the tough mass8   
,the latter seems to have taken place in
 this case1 as ,i conclude from the     
following3--,i took a small flask       
capable of holding #bj ounces of water2 
in this ,i caused a candle to burn as in
 the preceding2 after everything had    
become cold1 ,i opened this flask       
likewise under water1 whereupon         
similarly nearly #b ounces entered4 ,had
 the former #b ounces measure of air    
been absorbed1 then there should have   
been only #b drachms measure absorbed in
 this experiment4  7b47 ,i repeated the 
preceding experiment with the large     
flask in exactly the same way1 except   
that ,i employed spirit of wine in place
 of the candle4 ,i fastened three iron  
wires1 which were of equal length and   
reached up to the middle of the flask1  
into the tough mass which was firmly    
pressed on to the bottom of the dish4   
,upon these wires ,i laid a             
four-cornered plate of metal1 and upon  

this ,i placed a small vessel into which
 spirit of wine was poured4 ,i set fire 
to this and placed the flask over it4   
,after cooling1 ,i observed that #c     
ounces measure of air had been driven   
out by the heat of the flame4  7c47     
,upon the same stand ,i placed a few    
small glowing coals1 and allowed then go
 out in the same way under the flask4 ,i
 found after cooling that the heat of   
the coals had driven out three and a    
half ounces measure of air4  ,the       
experiments seem to prove that the      
transference of phlogiston to the air   
does not always diminish its bulk1      
which1 however1 the experiments         
mentioned in ,sec4,sec4 #h4af shew      
distinctly4 ,but the following will shew
 that that portion of the air which     
unites with the inflammable substance1  
and is at the same time absorbed by it1 
is replaced by the newly formed aerial  
acid4   #bb4 ,sixth ,experiment4--,after
 the fire had gone out and everything   
had become cold in the experiments      

mentioned above 7,sec4 #ba4 a4 b4 c471  
,i poured into each flask #f ounces of  
milk of lime 7lime water which has in it
 more unslaked lime than the water can  
dissolve72 ,i then placed my hand firmly
 on the mouth of the flask and swung it 
several times up and down2 then ,i held 
the flask inverted under water and drew 
my hand a little to one side1 so that a 
small orifice might be made4 ,water     
immediately rose into the flask4 ,then  
,i shut the mouth again very tightly    
with my hand under water1 and afterwards
 shook it several times up and down4 ,i 
opened it again under water2 this       
operation ,i repeated twice more until  
no more water would rise into the flask1
 or until no more aerial acid was       
present in it4 ,i then perceived that in
 each experiment between #g and #h      
ounces of water rose into the flasks1   
consequently the nineteenth part of the 
air has been lost4 ,this was indeed     
something1 but since in the combustion  
of phosphorus 7,sec4 #ag7 nearly the    

third part of the air was lost1 there   
must be another reason besides1 why as  
much is not absorbed in this case also4 
,it is known that one part of aerial    
acid mixed with #aj parts of ordinary   
air extinguishes fire2 and there are    
here in addition1 expanded by the heat  
of the flame and surrounding the latter1
 the watery vapours produced by the     
destruction of these oily substances4   
,it is these two elastic fluids1        
separating themselves from such a flame1
 which present no small hindrance to the
 fire which would otherwise certainly   
burn much longer1 especially since there
 is here no current of air by means of  
which they can be driven away from the  
flame4 ,when the aerial acid is         
separated from this air by milk of lime1
 then a candle can burn in it again1    
although only for a very short time4    
#bc4 ,seventh ,experiment4--,i placed   
upon the stand 7,sec4 #ba4 b47 a small  
crucible which was filled with sulphur2 
,i set fire to it and placed the flask  

over it4 ,after the sulphur was         
extinguished and everything had become  
cold1 ,i found that out of #afj parts of
 air1 #b parts were driven out of the   
flask by the heat of the flame4 ,i next 
poured #f ounces of clear lime water    
into the flask and dealt with it by     
shaking1 as already explained1 and      
observed that the sixth part of all the 
air had been lost in consequence of the 
combustion4 ,the lime water was not in  
the least precipitated in this case1 an 
indication that sulphur gives out no    
aerial acid during its combustion1 but  
another substance somewhat resembling   
air2 this is the volatile acid of       
sulphur1 which occupies again the empty 
space produced by the union of the      
inflammable substance with air4 ,it is  
not1 as may be seen1 a trifling         
circumstance that phlogiston1 whether it
 separates itself from substances and   
enters into union with air1 with or     
without a fiery motion1 still in every  
case diminishes the air so considerably 

in its external bulk4   #bd4            
,experiments which prove that ordinary  
air1 consisting of two kinds of elastic 
fluids1 can be compounded again after   
these have been separated from each     
other by means of phlogiston4  ,i have  
already stated in ,sec4 #af that ,i was 
not able to find again the lost air4    
,one might indeed object1 that the lost 
air still remains in the residual air   
which can no more unite with phlogiston2
 for1 since ,i have found that it is    
lighter than ordinary air1 it might be  
believed that the phlogiston united with
 this air makes it lighter1 as appears  
to be known already from other          
experiments4 ,but since phlogiston is a 
substance1 which always presupposes some
 weight1 ,i much doubt whether such     
hypothesis has any foundation4444   #be4
 ,how often must not chemists have      
distilled the fuming acid of nitre from 
oil of vitriol and nitre1 when it is    
impossible that they should not have    
observed how this acid went over red in 

the beginning1 white and colourless in  
the middle of the distillation1 but at  
the end red again2 and indeed so        
dark-red that one could not see through 
the receiver8 ,it is to be noticed here 
that if the heat is permitted to        
increase too much at the end of the     
distillation1 the whole mixture enters  
into such frothing that everything goes 
over into the receiver2 and1 what is of 
the greatest importance1 a kind of air  
goes over during this frothing which    
deserves no small attention4 ,if one    
takes for such distillation a very black
 oil of vitriol1 not only does the acid 
go over at the beginning of a far darker
 red than when one takes a white oil of 
vitriol1 but further1 when one          
introduces a burning candle into the    
receiver after about an ounce has gone  
over1 this goes out immediately4 ,on the
 other hand1 when one places a burning  
candle in the receiver filled with      
blood-red vapours1 towards the end of   
the distillation when1 as has been said1

 the mixture froths strongly1 not only  
will it continue to burn1 but this will 
take place with a much brighter light   
than in ordinary air4 ,the same thing   
occurs when one attaches1 at the close  
of the distillation1 a receiver which is
 filled with an air in which fire will  
not burn1 for1 when this has been       
attached for half an hour1 a candle will
 likewise continue to burn in the air4  
,in this case there now arises in the   
first place the question3 ,are the      
vapours of the acid of nitre naturally  
red8 ,i beg leave to raise this question
 here because ,i believe there are      
people who advance the redness of this  
acid as a distinguishing characteristic4
 ,the colours of the acid of nitre are  
accidental4 ,when a few ounces of fuming
 acid of nitre are distilled by a very  
gentle heat1 the yellow separates itself
 from it and goes into the receiver1 and
 the residuum in the retort becomes     
white and colourless like water4 ,this  
acid has all the chief properties of    

acid of nitre1 except that the yellow   
colour is wanting4 ,this ,i call the    
pure acid of nitre2 as soon1 however1 as
 it comes into contact with an          
inflammable substance1 it becomes more  
or less red4 ,this red acid is more     
volatile than the pure1 hence heat alone
 can separate them from one another2    
and1 for exactly the same reason1 the   
volatile spirit must go over first in   
the distillation of ,glauber's spirit of
 nitre4 ,when this has gone over1 the   
colourless acid follows2 but why does   
the acid make its appearance again so   
blood-red at the end of the             
distillation8 ,why has not this redness 
already been driven over at the         
beginning8 ,where does it now obtain its
 phlogiston8 ,this is the difficulty4   
#bf4 ,i intimated in the preceding      
paragraph that the candle went out in   
the receiver at the beginning of the    
distillation4 ,the reason is to be found
 in the experiment which ,i have cited  
in ,sec4 #ac4 ,in this case the acid of 

nitre1 passing over in vapours1 takes to
 itself the inflammable substance1 whose
 presence is indicated by the black     
colour of the oil of vitriol2 as soon as
 this has taken place it meets with the 
air1 which again robs the now           
phlogisticated acid of its inflammable  
substance2 by this means a part of the  
air contained in the receiver becomes   
lost1 hence the fire introduced into it 
must go out 7,sec4 #ae74   #bg4 ,the    
acid of nitre can attract phlogiston in 
varying quantity1 when it likewise      
receives other properties with each     
proportion4 7a47 ,when it becomes1 as it
 were1 saturated with it1 a true fire   
arises1 and it is then completely       
destroyed4 7b47 ,when the inflammable   
principle is present in smaller         
quantity1 this acid is converted into a 
kind of air which will not unite either 
with the alkalies or with the absorbent 
earths1 and with water only in very     
small quantity4 ,when this acid of      
nitre1 resembling air1 meets with the   

air1 the latter takes the inflammable   
substance from it again1 it loses its   
elasticity 7,sec4 #ac71 the vapours     
acquire redness1 and the air undergoes  
at the same time this no less remarkable
 than natural alteration1 that it is not
 only diminished1 but also becomes warm4
 7c47 ,when the acid of nitre receives  
still somewhat less phlogiston1 it is   
likewise converted into a kind of air1  
which1 like the air1 is also invisible1 
but unites with the alkalies and earths1
 and along with them can bring forth    
real intermediate salts4 ,this          
phlogisticated acid is1 however1 so     
loosely united with these absorbing     
substances1 that even the simple mixture
 with the vegetable acids can drive it  
out4 ,it is present in this condition in
 nitre which has been made red hot1 and 
also in ,nitrum ,antimoniatum4 ,when    
this acid of nitre meets the air it also
 loses its elasticity and is converted  
into red vapours4 ,when it is mixed in a
 certain quantity with water1 this      

acquires a blue1 green1 or yellow       
colour4 7d47 ,when the pure acid of     
nitre receives but very little of the   
inflammable substance1 the vapours only 
acquire a red colour1 and are wanting in
 expansive power2 it is1 however1 more  
volatile than the pure acid4 ,this acid 
holds this small quantity of phlogiston 
so firmly that even the air1 which so   
strongly attracts the inflammable       
substance1 is not able to separate this 
from it4         99       99       99   
99       99  #bi4 ,i took a glass retort
 which was capable of holding #h ounces 
of water1 and distilled fuming acid of  
nitre according to the usual method4 ,in
 the beginning the acid went over red1  
then it became colourless1 and finally  
all became red again2 as soon as ,i     
perceived the latter1 ,i took away the  
receiver and tied on a bladder1 emptied 
of air1 into which ,i poured some thick 
milk of lime 7,sec4 #bb7 in order to    
prevent the corrosion of the bladder4 ,i
 then proceeded with the distillation4  

,the bladder began to expand gradually4 
,after this ,i permitted everything to  
cool1 and tied up the bladder4 ,lastly  
,i removed it from the neck of the      
retort4 ,i filled a bottle1 which       
contained #aj ounces of water1 with this
 gas 7,sec4 #cj1 e471 ,i then placed a  
small lighted candle in it2 scarcely had
 this been done when the candle began to
 burn with a large flame1 whereby it    
gave out such a bright light that it was
 sufficient to dazzle the eyes4 ,i mixed
 one part of this air with three parts  
of that kind of air in which fire would 
not burn2 ,i had here an air which was  
like the ordinary air in every respect4 
,since this air is necessarily required 
for the origination of fire1 and makes  
up about the third part of our common   
air1 ,i shall call it after this1 for   
the sake of shortness1 ,fire-air2 but   
the other air which is not in the least 
serviceable for the fiery phenomenon1   
and makes up about two-thirds of our    
air1 ,i shall designate after this with 

the name already known1 of ,vitiated    
,air4   #cj4 ,anyone might ask me in    
what way ,i bring air from one vessel   
into another4 ,i find it necessary      
therefore to describe this in the first 
place4 ,my arrangements and vessels are 
the very simplest that one can possibly 
have3 flasks1 retorts1 bottles1 glasses1
 and ox bladders are the things which ,i
 employ4 ,the bladders1 while they are  
still fresh1 are rubbed1 and blown up   
very fully1 then tightly tied and hung  
up to dry4 ,when ,i wish to use such a  
bladder and find it blown up just as    
fully as at first1 ,i am thereby assured
 that it is tight4  7a47 ,when ,i wish  
to collect any kind of air in a bladder1
 for example the phlogisticated acid of 
nitre 7,sec4 #ac71 ,i take a soft       
bladder smeared inside with a few drops 
of oil1 and place in it some filings of 
a metal1 as iron1 zinc1 or tin2 ,i then 
press the air as completely as possible 
out of the bladder and tie it very      
tightly over a small bottle into which  

some aqua fortis has been poured2 ,i    
then partly unfold the bladder so that a
 few iron filings may fall into the aqua
 fortis1 according as this dissolves the
 bladder becomes expanded4 ,when ,i have
 collected enough of the air so         
produced1 ,i tightly tie up the bladder 
with a thread close above the mouth of  
the bottle1 and then detach it from the 
bottle4 7b47 ,if this phlogisticated    
acid of nitre is mixed with aerial acid1
 which is the case when the acid of the 
nitre is extracted over sugar1 ,i tie a 
bladder1 softened with some water1 to   
the extreme end of the neck of the      
retort ,a 7,fig4 #c72 in order1 however1
 that ,i may properly prevent the escape
 of the air it is necessary to scratch  
the neck of the retort somewhat at this 
place with a flint4 7,retorts which ,i  
employ for investigations of this kind  
,i have blown not larger than to be     
capable of holding only from one half to
 three ounces of water1 but which have  
at the same time a neck which is about  

half an ell long1 and that for this     
reason that the attached bladder may not
 be destroyed during the operation by   
the heat of the furnace or by the hot   
vapours47 ,into this bladder ,i pour    
some milk of lime 7,sec4 #bb71 and press
 the air out as fully as possible4 ,this
 lime will absorb the aerial acid during
 the distillation1 and leave the        
phlogisticated acid of nitre untouched4 
7c47 ,in exactly the same way as is     
described in a ,i also collect aerial   
acid and the inflammable air of sulphur 
7of which ,i shall speak further on74   
,but if the bladders are moist1 or even 
if only the air surrounding them is so1 
both these kinds of air penetrate       
completely through the bladders in a few
 days2 if the bladders and air are dry1 
however1 this does not take place4 ,i   
obtain inflammable air from the metals1 
as iron or zinc1 in exactly the same    
way1 except that ,i place the bottle in 
warm sand4 ,this air is still more      
subtle than the preceding2 it penetrates

 through the fine pores of the bladder  
in a few days1 although air and bladder 
are dry4 ,i frequently experienced this 
to my vexation4 7d47 ,i not infrequently
 catch air in bladders1 without any     
bottles4 ,i place in a soft bladder     
7,,aa1 ,fig4 #d7 the material from which
 ,i intend to collect the air1 for      
example1 chalk2 above this chalk ,i draw
 the bladder together with twine ,,bb2  
,i then pour above it the acid diluted  
with water and press out the air as     
completely as possible2 ,i finally tie  
up the bladder above at ,,cc4 ,i then   
untie the twine ,b1 when the acid runs  
upon the chalk2 it immediately drives   
out the aerial acid1 whereupon the      
bladder must expand4 7e47 ,when ,i      
require to get an air out of the bladder
 into a flask1 glass1 retort1 or bottle1
 ,i fill such apparatus with water and  
place in it a tightly fitting cork2 ,i  
then tie the bladder which contains the 
air1 that is1 the opening from ,c to ,d 
7,fig4 #d71 very firmly over such       

bottle2 ,i then invert the bottle so    
that the bladder comes below and the    
bottle above1 whereupon ,i hold the     
bottle with the left hand and with the  
right ,i withdraw the cork2 ,i hold this
 cork firmly between both fingers inside
 the bladder until the water has flowed 
out of the bottle into the bladder1 and 
the air has mounted out of the bladder  
into the bottle2 ,i then put in the cork
 and detach the bladder from the bottle4
 ,when ,i wish to preserve the air for a
 long time ,i place the neck of the     
bottle in a vessel with water4 7f47     
,when there is aerial acid in the       
bladder1 or another air which can unite 
with water1 and ,i wish to unite it with
 water neatly1 ,i fill a bottle with    
cold water1 and1 after it has been      
attached to the bladder1 ,i permit about
 the fourth part to run into the        
bladder2 ,i then push the cork1 which1  
as previously1 was firmly held within   
the bladder1 into the bottle again2 ,i  
then shake the bottle gently1 when the  

air will dissolve in the water4         
,thereupon ,i make a small opening by   
means of the cork1 when air passes out  
of the bladder into the bottle in order 
to fill up again the space which has    
become empty1 without any water running 
into the bladder2 ,i then push the cork 
again into the bottle and shake the     
water contained in it4 ,i repeat this   
operation two or three times more1 when 
the water is saturated with this air4   
7g47 ,when ,i wish to mix together two  
kinds of air in a flask or bottle1 ,i   
permit in the first place just as much  
water1 by measure1 to run from the      
bottle filled with water1 into the      
bladder1 as ,i wish to have of air4 ,i  
then tie the bottle over with a bladder 
filled with another kind of air and     
permit the remaining water to run into  
the bladder1 whereupon ,i immediately   
replace the cork in the bottle1 as soon 
as the last of the water has run out4   
7h47 ,when ,i wish to have in a bladder 
an air collected in a bottle1 ,i reverse

 the operation4 ,that is to say1 ,i fill
 the bladder with as much water as ,i   
wish to have in it of air and tie it up 
at the top2 ,i then tie this bladder    
tightly over the top of the bottle and  
untie the ligature of the bladder1 draw 
the cork out of the bottle and so permit
 the water to run out of the bladder    
into the bottle4 ,i then tie up the     
bladder1 which now contains the air out 
of the bottle1 and detach it from the   
bottle4 7i47 ,when ,i have in a bottle  
an air mixed with another kind of air   
which can be absorbed by water or lime1 
but wish to know how much of each kind  
is present in the bottle1 ,i tie over it
 a bladder into which so much milk of   
lime has been poured that the bottle can
 be filled with it2 ,i then withdraw the
 cork and permit the water or milk of   
lime to run into the bottle4 ,i         
afterwards invert the bottle and permit 
the milk of lime to flow again into the 
bladder2 ,i repeat this running out and 
in several times4 ,so much air by       

measure has been absorbed as there now  
remains behind of milk of lime in the   
bottle4  ,these are the methods which ,i
 employed in my investigations of air4  
,i admit that they will not particularly
 please some1 because they do not decide
 with great exactness4 ,they afforded me
 satisfaction1 however1 in all my       
investigations2 and people will often   
split a hair where it is not in the     
least necessary4   #ca4 ,continuation of
 the ,experiment mentioned in ,sec4 #bi 
444  ,anyone might object and say that  
the air obtained according to ,sec4 #bi 
is perhaps nothing else than a dry acid 
of nitre converted into elastic vapours4
 ,but if this opinion had any           
foundation1 this air should not only be 
corrosive1 but should also produce nitre
 anew with alkalies4 ,this1 however1    
does not occur4 ,nevertheless1 this     
objection would possess considerable    
weight were ,i not able to prove that   
several substances produce the same air 
as the acid of nitre does during        

distillation4 ,but proof of this is not 
wanting4  ,i have proved in a treatise  
on manganese1 which is to be found in   
the ,transactions of the ,royal ,swedish
 ,academy of ,sciences for the year     
#aggd1 that this mineral is not soluble 
in any acid unless an inflammable       
substance be added1 which communicates  
the phlogiston to the manganese1 and by 
this means effects an entrance of the   
latter into the acids4 ,i have shown in 
the same place that vitriolic acid1     
nevertheless1 during a strong           
distillation with powdered manganese1   
unites with it and makes it soluble in  
water2 and if this manganese is         
separated again from the vitriolic acid 
by means of precipitating agents1 there 
are found in it the most distinct traces
 of the inflammable substance4444 ,i had
 already observed a few years ago1 that 
if in the calcination of manganese with 
oil of vitriol in an open crucible1 some
 coal dust was driven by the current of 
air over the surface of this mixture1   

these fine coals took fire in the same  
instant with very great brilliancy4 ,i  
accordingly made the following          
experiments4   #cb4 ,first              
,experiment4--,i mixed so much          
concentrated oil of vitriol with finely 
powdered manganese that it became a     
stiff magma4 ,i distilled this mixture  
from a small retort on the open fire4   
,in place of a receiver ,i made use of a
 bladder1 empty of air1 and1 in order   
that the vapours which might pass over  
should not attack the bladder1 ,i poured
 into it some milk of lime 7,sec4 #cj1  
letter b74 ,as soon as the bottom of the
 retort became red hot1 an air passed   
over which gradually expanded the       
bladder4 ,this air had all the          
properties of a pure fire-air4   #cc4   
,second ,experiment4--,when ,i distilled
 two parts of finely pulverised         
manganese with one part of the          
phosphorous acid of urine in the same   
way as is indicated in the preceding    
paragraph1 ,i likewise obtained         

fire-air4   #cd4 ,third                 
,experiment4--7a47 ,i dissolved in aqua 
fortis the white magnesia employed in   
medicine2 ,i evaporated this solution to
 dryness4 ,i then placed the salt in a  
small retort for distillation1 as is    
described in ,sec4 #cb4 ,even before the
 retort was red hot the acid of nitre   
separated from the magnesia1 and that in
 blood-red vapours2 and at the same     
moment the bladder began to expand4 ,the
 air thus obtained was my fire-air4  ,it
 is thus seen constantly that the acid  
of nitre goes off again blood-red when  
separated by means of heat from the     
metals which had been dissolved in this 
menstruum4  7b47 ,i distilled mercurial 
nitre in the foregoing manner until the 
acid of nitre had separated from the    
residual red precipitate4 ,in this case 
also ,i obtained our fire-air4444       
,whence comes the boiling of nitre1     
fused in a crucible and obscurely       
red-hot8 ,neither smoke nor vapours are 
seen to rise from it1 and yet coal dust 

flying above the open crucible takes    
fire1 burning brilliantly4 ,whence comes
 it that such nitre maintained in       
red-hot fusion in a glass retort for    
half an hour1 becomes moist in open air 
and deliquesces after cooling1 and still
 does not show any trace of alkali8     
7,sec4 #bg1 letter c47 ,what is the     
reason that this liquefied nitre permits
 its volatile acid to escape            
immediately1 when rubbed or mixed with  
the vegetable acids8444 ,if the chemists
 of the preceding century had thought   
worthy of a more particular examination1
 the elastic fluids resembling air which
 manifest themselves in so many         
operations1 how advanced should we now  
be6 ,they desired to see everything in  
corporeal form1 and to collect          
everything as drops in the receiver4    
,this is now for the first time better  
inquired into1 and the air has begun to 
be carefully examined3 and who is there 
who does not perceive the advantage     
which the results of such experiments   

carry with them8         99       99    
99       99       99  #ce4 ,fourth      
,experiment4--,i put an ounce of        
purified nitre into a glass retort for  
distillation and made use of a bladder1 
moistened and emptied of air1 in place  
of a receiver 7,fig4 #c74 ,as soon as   
the nitre began to glow it also began to
 boil1 and at the same time the bladder 
was expanded by the air that passed     
over4 ,i proceeded with the distillation
 until the boiling in the retort ceased1
 and the nitre was about to force its   
way through the softened retort4 ,i     
obtained in the bladder the pure        
fire-air which occupied the space of #ej
 ounces of water4 ,this is the cheapest 
and best method of obtaining fire-air4  
99       99       99       99       99  
#ch4 ,fifth ,experiment4--,i took a     
silver solution prepared with acid of   
nitre1 and precipitated it with alkali  
of tartar2 ,i washed the precipitate    
thus obtained and dried it4 ,i then     
placed this calx of silver in a small   

glass retort on the open fire for       
reduction1 and fastened an empty bladder
 to the neck4 ,the bladder was          
immediately expanded by the air which   
passed over4 ,after the end of the      
distillation ,i found the calx of silver
 half melted together in the retort1    
with its metallic lustre2 however1 as ,i
 had effected the precipitation with    
alkali of tartar1 and this is always    
united with a quantity of aerial acid   
which attaches itself to the calx of    
silver in the precipitation1 so this    
acid was necessarily present also in the
 bladder4 ,this acid was removed from it
 by milk of lime 7,sec4 #cj1 letter i471
 and there remained behind one-half of  
pure fire-air4   #ci4 ,sixth            
,experiment4--,i precipitated with      
alkali of tartar a solution of gold     
which was made with aqua regia2 ,i      
reduced in the foregoing manner the     
washed and dried calx of gold4 ,i       
obtained in this case the same fire-air1
 except that no aerial acid accompanied 

it4 ,this is not to be wondered at1     
because the saturated solution of gold  
effervesces with the alkali1 which does 
not take place with the solution of     
silver4   #dj4 ,seventh                 
,experiment4--,it is likewise known that
 the red precipitate of mercury regains 
its flowing condition without the       
addition of an inflammable substance4   
,since mercury1 however1 really loses   
its phlogiston as well by means of      
vitriolic acid as of the acid of nitre1 
it must necessarily assume this again as
 soon as it recovers its metallic       
property4  7a47 ,i added a solution of  
alkali of tartar1 drop by drop1 to a    
solution of corrosive sublimate4 ,i     
washed the brown-red precipitate        
obtained1 and dried it2 then ,i placed  
it1 for reduction1 upon the open fire in
 a small retort1 which was provided with
 a bladder empty of air4 ,as soon as the
 calx began to glow1 the bladder became 
expanded1 and quicksilver rose into the 
neck4 ,the fire-air obtained had some   

aerial acid mixed with it4  7b47        
,mercury converted into calx by the acid
 of nitre1 or red precipitate1 treated  
in the same way behaved similarly4 ,in  
this case ,i obtained a pure fire-air1  
without any aerial acid in it4   #da4   
,eighth ,experiment4--,i have proved1 in
 a treatise on arsenic communicated to  
the ,royal ,swedish ,academy of         
,sciences1 that this poisonous substance
 is compounded of a peculiar acid and an
 inflammable substance4 ,i also shewed  
in the same treatise how this acid can  
be sublimed into ordinary arsenic simply
 by continued heat2 and although ,i     
clearly perceived the reason for this1  
even at that time1 still ,i was         
unwilling to mention it there in order  
to avoid prolixity4 ,i placed some of   
this fixed acid of arsenic in a small   
retort with a bladder attached1 for     
distillation4 ,when the acid had gone   
into fusion1 and glowed brightly1 it    
began to boil2 during this ebullition   
arsenic rose into the neck and the      

bladder became expanded2 ,i continued   
with this heat as long as the retort    
would hold out4 ,the air collected was  
likewise fire-air4 ,in the same treatise
 ,i made mention of a peculiar explosion
 which took place in the distillation of
 zinc with the acid of arsenic4 ,how    
clear1 how manifest does the explanation
 of this phenomenon not become when one 
is satisfied that in this case fire-air 
is present in the retort in its greatest
 purity1 and the zinc is in red hot     
fusion8 ,what more is necessary for its 
ignition8  ,i have very often regarded  
with pleasure the brightly glowing      
sparks which are produced in a retort by
 heat alone1 during the reduction of    
metallic calces1 when only a very little
 coal dust is mixed along with it4  ,we 
shall now see whether this fire-air is  
not the same air which had been lost    
without fire 7,sec4,sec4 #h-ae71 and    
with fire 7,sec4,sec4 #ag-bc74   #db4   
,first ,experiment4--,i filled a bottle 
which was capable of holding #af ounces 

of water with pure fire-air according to
 the method which is described in ,sec4 
#cj1 letter e4 ,i placed the bottle1    
inverted1 in a glass which was filled   
with a solution of liver of sulphur4    
,the solution rose a little into the    
bottle hour by hour1 and after the lapse
 of #b days the bottle was filled with  
it4   #dc4 ,second ,experiment4--,i     
mixed in a bottle #ad parts of that air 
from which the fire-air had been removed
 by liver of sulphur 7,sec4 #h71 and    
which ,i have called vitiated air 7,sec4
 #bi71 with #d parts of our fire-air1   
and placed the bottle1 inverted and     
open1 in a vessel which was also filled 
with a solution of liver of sulphur4    
,after #ad days the #d parts of fire-air
 were lost1 and the solution had risen  
into their place4   #dd4 ,third         
,experiment4--,after ,i had filled a    
bottle with our air1 ,i poured some     
colourless animal oil into it and closed
 it tightly4 ,after a few hours it had  
already become brown1 and by the next   

day black4 ,it is no small inconvenience
 to preserve this oil white in          
apothecaries' shops4 ,it is found       
necessary to pour this oil into small   
phials1 and to preserve it most         
carefully from the access of air4 ,when 
such a colourless oil is mixed with any 
acid1 the acid1 as well as the oil1     
becomes black even in an hour1 although 
it has been diluted with water4 ,even   
vinegar has the same effect4 ,there is  
no other reason1 therefore1 why the oil 
becomes at once black in the air1 than  
that the fire-air present in the air    
deprives it of its phlogiston1 and      
thereby develops a subtle acid1         
previously united with this phlogiston1 
which produces the blackness4   #de4    
,fourth ,experiment4--7a47 ,into a      
bottle of #g ounces1 which was filled   
with fire-air1 ,i put a piece of        
phosphorus from urine and closed it with
 a cork4 ,i then heated1 by means of a  
burning candle1 the place where the     
phosphorus lay2 the phosphorus took fire

 with very great brilliancy4 ,as soon as
 the flame had gone out1 the bottle     
broke into fragments4  7b47 ,as the     
bottle in the foregoing experiment was  
very thin1 ,i repeated it with a        
somewhat thicker bottle1 and after      
everything had become cold ,i wanted to 
take the cork out of the bottle under   
water4 ,it was not possible for me to do
 this1 however1 so tightly did the      
external air press the cork into the    
bottle4 ,accordingly ,i forced it inside
 the bottle2 thereupon water entered the
 bottle and filled it almost completely4
 ,since the first bottle was only very  
thin1 the reason that it was crushed    
must be ascribed to the external air4   
7c47 ,when ,i mixed vitiated air with   
one third of fire-air1 and burned a     
piece of phosphorus in the mixture1 only
 #a_/c of it was absorbed4   #df4 ,fifth
 ,experiment4--,i also repeated the same
 experiment which is described in ,sec4 
#ai1 only with this difference that ,i  
took the tube longer1 and filled the    

flask with my fire-air4 ,it was pleasing
 to observe how the water rose gradually
 into the flask2 and how the flame went 
out when #g_/h of the flask were full of
 water4   #dg4 ,sixth ,experiment4--,i  
laid some glowing coals upon the stand  
7,sec4 #ba1 letter c71 and placed over  
them a flask which was filled with      
fire-air4 ,the coals had not even       
reached the air in the flask before they
 began to burn very brilliantly4  ,after
 everything had become cold1 ,i made an 
aperture under the flask1 whereupon the 
fourth part became filled with water4   
,but when ,i removed1 by means of milk  
of lime1 the aerial acid which was      
present in the residual air 7,sec4 #bb7 
there remained in the flask only the    
fourth part4 ,in this air a candle could
 still burn4   #dh4 ,seventh            
,experiment4--,i also examined the      
behaviour of fire-air with sulphur      
7,sec4 #bc74 ,as soon as the burning    
sulphur came into contact with the      
fire-air contained in the flask1 the    

flame became much larger and brighter4  
,when this fire had gone out1 the water 
in the dish had found a way to come     
through the mass into the flask1 which  
became #c_/d filled with it4 ,as ,i     
employed for these last #c experiments a
 flask which was only of #cj ounces     
measure1 ,i was obliged to arrange the  
stand 7,sec4 #ba7 to suit4   #di4 ,i    
have mentioned 7,sec4 #af7 that ,i found
 vitiated air lighter than ordinary air4
 ,must it not follow from this that the 
fire-air is heavier than our air8 ,as a 
matter of fact1 ,i actually found1 when 
,i accurately weighed as much fire-air  
as occupied the space of #bj ounces of  
water1 that this was almost #b grains   
heavier than the same bulk of common    
air4   #ej4 ,these experiments shew1    
therefore1 that this fire-air is just   
that air by means of which fire burns in
 common air2 only it is there mixed with
 a kind of air which seems to possess no
 attraction at all for the inflammable  
substance1 and this it is which places  

some hindrance in the way of the        
otherwise rapid and violent             
inflammation4 ,and in fact1 if air      
consisted of nothing but fire-air1 water
 would surely render small service in   
extinguishing outbreaks of fire4 ,aerial
 acid mixed with this fire-air1 has the 
same effect as vitiated air4 ,i mixed   
one part of fire-air with #d parts of   
aerial acid2 in this mixture a candle   
still burned moderately well4 ,the heat 
which lurks in the small interstices of 
the inflammable substance cannot        
possibly make up so much heat as is felt
 in fire2 and ,i think ,i am not        
mistaken when ,i conclude from my       
experiments that the heat is really     
brought forth and produced in the first 
place from fire-air and the phlogiston  
of the inflammable substance4444        
99       99       99       99       99  
#hj4 ,i had long wished to have some of 
the precipitate of mercury per se1 in   
order to see whether it also would yield
 fire-air during reduction by means of  

heat alone4 ,at length ,i obtained some 
from my much esteemed friend ,doctor    
,gahn4 ,this so-called precipitate had  
the appearance of small dark-red        
crystals resembling cinnabar4 ,now1 as  
,i know that mercury cannot be dissolved
 in muriatic acid unless it has lost its
 phlogiston1 which takes place during   
its solution in acid of nitre or in     
vitriolic acid2 and as this is also the 
reason why nitre must be present in a   
mixture of calcined vitriol1 common     
salt1 and quicksilver1 ,i therefore     
poured muriatic acid upon a part of this
 red precipitate2 the solution was soon 
formed and was somewhat hot2 ,i         
evaporated it to dryness and increased  
the heat4 ,everything sublimed1 and a   
true corrosive sublimate was formed4    
,hence this precipitate1 produced by    
heat alone1 is a calcined mercury4 ,i   
then placed the other part of this      
precipitate over the fire in a small    
glass retort to which ,i had fastened an
 empty bladder4 ,as soon as the retort  

became red hot the bladder became       
expanded1 and at the same time the      
reduced mercury rose into the neck4 ,in 
this case no red sublimate arose as     
customarily takes place with that calx  
which is prepared by the acid of nitre4 
,the air obtained was a pure fire-air4  
,this is a remarkable circumstance1 that
 the fire-air which had previously      
removed from the mercury its phlogiston 
in a slow calcination1 gives this same  
phlogiston up to it again when the calx 
is simply made red-hot4 ,still we have  
several such phenomena1 where heat      
similarly alters the attractive forces  
between substances4         99       99 
99       99       99   #hc4 ,air is a   
,dulcified ,elastic ,acid4  ,in the     
foregoing experiments ,i have           
demonstrated the two proximate          
constituents of common air1 because it  
was not necessary to know anything more 
about it for a clear knowledge of fire4 
,i shall now go further1 and see whether
 a still deeper decompounding of air is 

possible4  ,first ,experiment4--,i      
placed a rat in a flask capable of      
holding #d quarts of water2 ,i gave it  
some bread softened in milk and closed  
the flask with a wet bladder4 ,it died  
#ca hours afterwards4 ,i then held the  
flask1 inverted1 under water and made a 
hole in the bladder1 when two ounces of 
water rose into it4 ,this small         
diminution of the air was probably      
caused by the heat which the rat took   
with it1 which had previously driven the
 air out4   #hd4 ,second                
,experiment4--,i took a large soft      
bladder and fastened a tube into its    
opening2 then ,i filled it with the air 
out of my lungs1 and held the tube and  
bladder with my right hand and closed my
 nostrils with the left4 ,i respired the
 air as long as ,i could1 and was able  
to make #bd inspirations 7regarding     
which it is to be observed that at the  
last ,i was obliged to draw the whole   
bladder full of air into my lungs at    
once1 while at the beginning only the   

half of it was necessary74 ,i then      
closed the tube with my finger1 and tied
 up the bladder4 ,this air had          
properties similar to the preceding in  
which the rat died4 ,that is to say1 it 
contained one-thirtieth part of aerial  
acid1 which ,i separated from it by milk
 of lime2 and a burning candle at once  
went out in it4   #he4 ,third           
,experiment4--,i placed a few flies in a
 bottle into which ,i had put some honey
 smeared upon paper4 ,after a few days  
they had died4 ,they likewise had not   
absorbed any air2 milk of lime1 however1
 diminished this air about one fourth   
part1 and the remainder extinguished    
fire4  ,i then took a bottle of #bj     
ounces measure and bored a hole in the  
bottom of it with the corner of a broken
 file 7,fig4 #e1 ,a74 ,into this bottle 
,i put a small piece of unslaked lime1  
and closed the mouth with a cork through
 which ,i had previously fixed a tube   
,b4 ,round about this cork ,i placed a  
ring of pitch1 and placed over it an    

inverted glass ,c1 into which ,i had    
previously put a large bee and had given
 it some honey which was smeared upon   
paper2 but in order that no air could   
penetrate within the ring of pitch1 ,i  
pressed the glass firmly in2 ,i         
afterwards placed the bottle in the dish
 ,d1 into which ,i poured so much water 
that it was half immersed in it2 as soon
 ,i observed that the bottle was raised 
by the water1 ,i put a small weight upon
 the glass4 ,the water rose a little    
into the bottle every day through the   
opening ,a2 and ,i also shook the bottle
 a little sometimes in order that the   
skin which formed over the milk of lime 
might break4 ,after the lapse of seven  
days the water had risen to ,e1 and the 
bee was dead4 ,occasionally ,i put #b   
bees into the glass ,c1 when just as    
much air was converted into aerial acid 
in half the time4 ,caterpillars and     
butterflies behaved in exactly the same 
way4   #hf4 ,fourth ,experiment4--,i    
placed some peas in a small flask1 which

 was capable of holding #bd ounces of   
water1 and poured so much water upon    
them that they were half covered with   
it2 ,i then closed the flask4 ,the peas 
began to strike roots1 and grew up4 ,as 
,i found after #ad days that they would 
not increase further1 ,i opened the     
flask1 inverted1 under water1 and found 
the air neither increased nor           
diminished4 ,the fourth part1 however1  
was absorbed by milk of lime1 and the   
remaining air extinguished flame4 ,i    
kept fresh roots1 fruits1 herbs1        
flowers1 and leaves1 each by itself1 in 
the flask1 and after a few days ,i      
likewise observed the fourth part of the
 air converted into aerial acid4 ,if    
flies are placed in such air they die   
immediately4   #hg4 ,these are          
accordingly strange circumstances1 that 
the air is not noticeably absorbed by   
animals endowed with lungs1 contains in 
it very little aerial acid1 and yet     
extinguishes fire4 ,on the other hand   
insects and plants alter the air in     

exactly the same way1 but still they    
convert the fourth part of it into      
aerial acid4 ,accordingly ,i was curious
 to know whether the fire-air was not   
that which was here converted into      
aerial acid1 because in these latter    
experiments just as much of the air was 
converted into aerial acid as there was 
of fire-air present in it4   #hh4 ,fifth
 ,experiment4--,in a bottle of #bj      
ounces capacity1 ,i mixed one part of   
fire-air with #c parts of the preceding 
air in which peas would not any longer  
grow1 and from which the aerial acid was
 separated4 7,that is to say1 ,i filled 
the bottle with water1 and placed #d    
peas in it2 ,i then allowed one fourth  
of the water to run into the bladder in 
which fire-air was contained1 and the   
remainder into another bladder in which 
this vitiated air was contained 7,sec4  
#cj1 g471 while ,i took care that the   
peas did not fall into the bladder4 ,i  
also left so much water behind1 that the
 peas were half covered with it47 ,here 

also ,i observed the peas growing up1   
and after they would not increase any   
more ,i found this air likewise not     
absorbed1 but almost the fourth part was
 absorbed by milk of lime4 ,hence it is 
the fire-air which is here converted    
into aerial acid4 ,in #c parts of aerial
 acid and one part of fire-air peas do  
not grow4 ,i mixed vitiated air 7,sec4  
#bj7 with fire-air which behaved in just
 the same way3 that is to say the       
fire-air was converted into aerial acid4
   #hi4 ,sixth ,experiment4--,i mixed1  
in the same proportions1 fire-air and   
air vitiated by peas1 and filled a      
bladder with it4 ,then when ,i had      
completely exhaled the air present in my
 lungs1 ,i respired this newly          
compounded air as many times as         
possible4 ,i then found that it         
contained very little aerial acid in it1
 and when this was separated from it1 it
 extinguished fire4 ,i believe that one 
must ascribe to the blood present in the
 pulmonary veins1 the effect which      

animals endowed with lungs have upon the
 air4 ,the following experiment gives me
 cause for this4  ,it is known that     
freshly drawn blood1 when it stands in  
the open air1 assumes a fine red on the 
surface1 and that the under portions    
likewise become red when they come into 
contact with the air4 ,does the air in  
this case undergo any alteration8 ,i    
filled a flask one third part with      
freshly drawn ox blood1 closed it       
tightly with a bladder1 and shook up the
 blood frequently4 ,eight hours         
afterwards ,i neither found aerial acid 
in this air1 nor that its bulk was      
diminished2 but the flame of a candle   
was immediately extinguished in it4 ,i  
made this experiment in winter time1    
from which may be gathered that the     
effect cannot be ascribed to any        
putrefaction1 for this blood was found  
still fresh #f days afterwards1 and     
besides1 all putrefactions produce      
aerial acid4 ,i was now curious to know 
how fire-air by itself would behave with

 animals and plants4   #ij4 ,seventh    
,experiment4--7a47 ,i put #b ounces of  
nitre into a small glass retort upon    
glowing coals1 and attached a large     
bladder softened with water 7,sec4 #ce71
 and allowed the nitre to boil until ,i 
had received #c_/d of a quart of        
fire-air in the bladder4 ,i then tied up
 the bladder and separated it from the  
retort2 ,i then placed a tube in its    
opening1 and after ,i had completely    
emptied my lungs1 ,i began to respire   
air from this bladder 7,sec4 #hd74 ,this
 proceeded very well1 and ,i was able to
 make #dj inspirations before it became 
difficult for me2 eventually ,i expelled
 the air again from my lungs as         
completely as possible4 ,it did not seem
 to have diminished particularly1 and   
when ,i filled a bottle with it and     
introduced a burning candle1 this still 
burned4 ,i then began to respire this   
air anew1 and was able to make #af more 
inspirations4 ,it now extinguished the  
flame1 but ,i found only some traces of 

aerial acid in it4 7b47 ,i was surprised
 that ,i was not able the first time to 
take away from this air the property of 
allowing fire to burn in it2 ,i thought 
that perhaps the great humidity         
prevented me from drawing this air into 
my lungs so often as was really         
possible4 ,accordingly ,i repeated the  
same experiment1 only with this         
difference1 that ,i put a handful of    
potashes into the bladder before the    
fire-air was driven into it4 ,i then    
began to draw this air into my lungs1   
and counted #fe inspirations before ,i  
was compelled to desist4 ,but when ,i   
lowered a burning candle into this air1 
it still burned well1 although only for 
a few seconds4   #ia4 ,eighth           
,experiment4--,i closed the hole in the 
bottle at ,a 7,fig4 #e7 with a cork1 as 
also the tube ,b1 and then filled the   
bottle with fire-air 7,sec4 #cj1 e474   
,then ,i had at hand the glass ,c1 in   
which ,i had placed #b large bees1 and  
had provided some honey for their stay4 

,i opened the stopped-up tube1 placed   
this glass over it as quickly as        
possible1 and pressed it into the ring  
of pitch4 ,i afterwards placed the whole
 in the dish ,d1 which ,i had filled    
with milk of lime1 and withdrew the cork
 at ,a4 ,in this case ,i observed the   
milk of lime to rise a little into the  
bottle every day1 and after #h days had 
elapsed the bottle was almost completely
 filled with it1 and the bees were dead4
   #ib4 ,ninth ,experiment4--,plants1   
however1 will not grow noticeably in    
pure fire-air4 ,i filled with this air a
 bottle capable of holding #af ounces of
 water1 and which contained #d peas     
7,sec4 #hh74 ,they got roots1 but did   
not grow up at all2 with milk of lime   
the twelfth part was absorbed4 ,i then  
filled this air into another bottle     
which also contained #d peas4 ,after #ad
 days they had got roots1 but also did  
not grow up1 and with milk of lime      
likewise only the twelfth part was      
absorbed4 ,i repeated this experiment #c

 times more with the same air1 and it   
was observed that the fourth and fifth  
times the peas had grown upwards a      
little4 ,there still remained one-half  
of the whole air1 and in this fire could
 still burn4 ,there is no doubt that the
 whole quantity of fire-air could have  
been converted into aerial acid if ,i   
had continued the operation longer4 ,it 
may also be observed that the peas act  
more strongly upon the fire-air when    
they send out roots than subsequently4  
#ic4 ,hence it is the fire-air by means 
of which the circulation of the blood   
and of the juices in animals and plants 
is so fully maintained4 ,still it is a  
peculiar circumstance that blood and the
 lungs have not such action upon        
fire-air as insects and plants have1 for
 the latter convert it into aerial acid1
 and the former into vitiated air       
7,sec4,sec4 #bi1 #hi1 #ij74 ,it is not  
so easy to furnish the reason for this1 
yet ,i will risk it4 ,it is known that  
the acids lose those properties by which

 they reveal themselves as acids1 by the
 addition of the inflammable substance1 
as sulphur1 the elastic acid of nitre1  
regulus of arsenic1 sugar1 and the like1
 plainly shew4 ,i am inclined to believe
 that fire-air consists of a subtle acid
 substance united with phlogiston1 and  
it is probable that all acids derive    
their origin from fire-air4 ,now1 if    
this air penetrates into plants1 these  
must attract the phlogiston1 and        
consequently the acid1 which manifests  
itself as aerial acid1 must be produced4
 ,this they again give up4 ,the         
objection that so great a quantity of   
aerial acid is nevertheless obtained in 
the destruction of plants1 and that1    
consequently1 these must attract the    
aerial acid1 has no weight1 since       
otherwise the air in my vessels in which
 the peas were contained must have      
become for the most part lost1 which1   
however1 did not take place4444 ,if     
plants abstract the phlogiston from the 
air1 the aerial acid must be lighter4   

,but experiment shows me the opposite2  
,i found it1 after careful weighing1    
somewhat heavier1 but this is not       
contrary to my opinion2 as it is known  
that all acids retain water strongly1   
the aerial acid must possess the same   
property1 and this may consequently     
cause the most of the weight4 ,if all   
this is accurate1 another question then 
arises3 ,why do not blood and the lungs 
likewise convert fire-air into such an  
aerial acid8 ,i take the liberty here   
also of giving my opinion of this1 for  
how would all these laboriously executed
 experiments help me if ,i had not the  
hope of coming by means of them nearer  
to my ultimate object1 the truth8       
,phlogiston1 which makes most substances
 with which it unites liquid as well as 
mobile and elastic1 must have the same  
effect upon blood4 ,the globules of     
blood must attract it from the air      
through the small pores of the lungs4   
,by this union they become separated    
from one another1 and are consequently  

made more liquid4 ,they then appear     
bright red 7,sec4 #hi74 ,they must1     
however1 give this attracted phlogiston 
up again during the circulation1 and in 
consequence1 be placed in a condition to
 absorb the inflammable substance anew  
from the air at that place where they   
are in the most intimate contact with   
it1 that is1 in the lungs4 ,where this  
phlogiston has gone to during the       
circulation of the blood1 ,i leave to   
others to ascertain4 ,the attraction    
which the blood has for phlogiston      
cannot be so strong as that with which  
plants and insects attract it from the  
air1 and then the blood cannot convert  
air into aerial acid2 still it becomes  
converted into an air which lies midway 
between fire-air and aerial acid1 that  
is1 a vitiated air2 for it unites       
neither with lime nor with water after  
the manner of fire-air and it           
extinguishes fire1 after that of aerial 
acid4 ,but that the blood really        
attracts the inflammable substance ,i   

have additional experiment to prove1    
since ,i have removed phlogiston by help
 of my lungs from inflammable air1 and  
have converted this into vitiated air4  
,i filled a bladder with the air which  
one obtains from iron filings and       
vitriolic acid 7,sec4 #cj1 c471 and     
respired it in the manner previously    
described 7,sec4 #hd74 ,i was only able 
to inhale it #bj times1 and after ,i had
 somewhat recovered1 ,i expelled the air
 once more from my lungs as completely  
as possible1 and again inhaled this     
inflammable air3 after #aj inhalations  
,i was compelled to desist from it1 and 
observed that it could no longer be     
kindled1 and also would not unite with  
lime water4 ,in one word it was a       
vitiated air4  ,i kept a piece of       
sulphur in continuous ebullition over   
the fire in a retort1 capable of holding
 #ab ounces of water1 with an empty     
bladder attached in place of a receiver1
 the retort also placed so that the     
sulphur which rose into the neck could  

run back again4 ,after all had become   
cold1 ,i found the air neither increased
 nor diminished3 it smelt slightly      
hepatic1 and extinguished a burning     
candle4 ,i shall prove further on that  
sulphur can unite with more phlogiston2 
and it seems to me to follow from this  
experiment that something inflammable   
from the air had deposited itself upon  
the sulphur1 and that the air had       
thereby acquired the property of a      
vitiated air4 ,it is1 however1 also     
remarkable that other bodies which      
attract the inflammable substance more  
strongly1 as for example1 the fuming    
acid of nitre1 do not abstract it from  
the air4 ,it is likewise strange that ,i
 was able to inhale the inflammable air 
into my lungs only #bj times2 and ,i    
observe here as something peculiar that1
 if ,i mistake not1 ,i became very warm 
a quarter of an hour afterwards4 ,it is 
also to be observed that fire-air1      
vitiated by the lungs1 extinguishes     
fire2 why does not the aerial acid      

attract the phlogiston again8 why not   
also the vitiated air8 ,mr4 ,priestley  
indeed has accomplished this1 but it did
 not succeed with me however much ,i    
also wished it4 ,he has converted aerial
 acid into wholesome air by means of a  
mixture of iron filings1 sulphur1 and   
some water4 ,when ,i desired to repeat  
this experiment1 the aerial acid was    
always absorbed by the iron filings4 ,i 
likewise powdered finely some iron      
filings which had been fused together   
with excess of sulphur1 moistened this  
with water1 and preserved it in a bottle
 which was filled with aerial acid3 but 
with the same result4 ,after #b two days
 the aerial acid was almost entirely    
absorbed4 ,this philosopher also says   
that he has made vitiated air wholesome 
again by agitation with water4 ,i must  
admit1 however1 that with me this       
likewise failed4 ,i filled a flask one  
fourth part with vitiated air1 and the  
remainder with fresh water2 ,i closed   
the flask very tightly1 and shook it up 

and down for almost a whole hour4 ,then 
when ,i collected this air in a bladder1
 and from this in a bottle1 ,i found    
that the candle was extinguished        
afterwards as it was before4 ,he mixed  
with water1 by agitation1 the           
inflammable air from metals2 this also  
would not succeed with me1 although ,i  
used only little inflammable air1 and   
much water4 ,he also observed that      
plants made vitiated air wholesome      
again4 ,it follows from my experiments  
that they vitiate air4 ,i kept plants1  
in the dark as well as exposed to       
sunlight1 in a flask which was filled   
with vitiated air and carefully secured 
7which careful securing must really be  
attended to74 ,i tested a little of this
 air every #b days1 and always found it 
vitiated4   #id4 ,water has the peculiar
 property of separating the proximate   
constituents of air2 of uniting with    
fire-air2 and of entering into no kind  
of union with vitiated air4 7#a47 ,i    
filled a large bottle with boiled water 

which had been cooled shortly before1   
and permitted the tenth part to run out4
 ,i then placed the bottle1 inverted and
 open1 in a vessel with water4 ,i       
observed the quantity of air to diminish
 a little every day1 and when this      
diminution ceased1 ,i collected the     
remaining air first in a bladder 7,sec4 
#cj1 h471 and from the bladder in a     
bottle 7,sec4 #cj1 c471 and brought a   
burning candle into the bottle2 it had  
scarcely reached the mouth when it went 
out4 7#b47 ,i then took the same kind of
 water freed from air1 filled a bottle  
with it1 and permitted the tenth part of
 it to run into a bladder filled with   
vitiated air4 ,i next placed the bottle1
 inverted1 in a vessel with water1 and  
observed the space which the air        
occupied in it4 ,i found1 #ad days      
afterwards1 that the water had not      
absorbed the smallest quantity of it4   
7#c47 ,i placed a large bottle1 from    
which the bottom was knocked out1 in a  
deep kettle with water1 so that the     

water outside reached above the top of  
the bottle4 ,i then tied a bladder1     
empty of air1 over the top of the       
bottle1 and made the water boil up once 
over the fire4 ,the air which was in    
that portion of the water contained     
under the bottle rose into the bladder2 
and after ,i had tied up the bladder1   
and detached it front the bottle1 ,i    
filled a phial with it1 and put a small 
burning candle into it2 it burned there 
more brightly than in ordinary air4     
,this fire-air1 dissolved in water1 must
 be as indispensable for aquatic animals
 as for those which live upon the earth4
 ,they must draw it into their bodies1  
and convert it either into aerial acid  
or into vitiated air4 ,into whichever   
kind it is1 however1 it must always     
become separated from the water again1  
for as aerial acid it does not remain   
with the water in the open air1 and     
vitiated air cannot unite with water at 
all 7,no4 #b71 the water is then in a   
condition again to absorb fire-air anew1

 and to convey it to the animals4 ,my   
experiments made with respect to this   
matter agree with this entirely4 ,i     
allowed a few leeches to remain in a    
bottle1 which was half filled with water
 and well closed1 until they died4 ,i   
then examined the air standing over this
 water4 ,it had no smell1 nor had the   
water2 it appeared to have increased a  
little and it extinguished fire4 ,it    
seems that these creatures live only    
upon the phlogiston in fire-air1 perhaps
 also upon the heat4 ,i have preserved  
them alive in water1 and that the same  
water1 for two years2 the bottle was    
only tied over with gauze4 ,i have a    
convenient method to ascertain whether  
fire-air is present in water or not4 ,i 
take1 for example1 an ounce of it1 and  
add to it about #d drops of a solution  
of vitriol of iron1 and #b drops of a   
solution of alkali of tartar which has  
been somewhat diluted with water4 ,a    
dark green precipitate is immediately   
formed1 which1 however becomes yellow in

 a couple of minutes if the water       
contains fire-air2 but if the water has 
been boiled1 and has become cold without
 access of air1 or if it is even a      
recently distilled water1 the           
precipitate retains its green colour1   
and does not become yellow sooner than  
an hour afterwards1 and not yellow at   
all if it is protected from access of   
air in full bottles4 ,i have already    
shown 7,sec4 #ae7 that the green        
precipitate of iron owes its colour to  
phlogiston which still adheres to the   
earth1 and it follows from this that    
fire-air1 although not in the elastic   
condition1 is able to attract           
phlogiston4 ,the following experiment   
likewise shewed me that aquatic animals 
take fire-air from the water4 ,i placed 
a leech in a bottle which was completely
 filled with water1 and was protected   
from every kind of air4 ,after two days 
it was almost dead4 ,i then examined the
 water in the manner described above1   
and found that the earth of iron        

retained its green colour4 ,the swelling
 up of peas in cold water is to be      
ascribed mainly to the fire-air present 
in the water4 ,if a bottle is filled    
full of water and a few peas are placed 
in it1 after #bd hours the water        
contains aerial acid it is true1 but no 
fire-air4 ,in water boiled and become   
cold1 peas swell up only a little4 ,i   
perceive in this the reason why the     
waters distilled from plants not only   
lose their smell1 but why also a        
mucilaginous substance settles to the   
bottom1 when the bottles are frequently 
opened1 whereas the same waters1 in     
perfectly full bottles1 retain their    
smell and clearness unchanged4 ,all     
plants communicate to water some        
mucilaginous material which is carried  
over along with it4 ,fire-air is the    
chief cause of this corruption2 if this 
enters the water again1 it attracts to  
itself the inflammable substance from   
the subtle oily and mucilaginous matter1
 and alters the whole of the water4     

99       99       99       99       99  
,transcriber's ,note  ,all bold text has
 been surrounded by  signs4 ,italic text
 is denoted by underscores4