Volume 1

A discourse on the different kinds of air, delivered at the anniversary meeting of the Royal Society, November 30, 1773 / [Sir John Pringle].

  • Pringle, John, Sir, 1707-1782.
Date:
1774
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A discourse on the different kinds of air, delivered at the anniversary meeting of the Royal Society, November 30, 1773 / [Sir John Pringle]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in ftore agalnft the bad effeds of corrupted air, which from various caufes infed our at- mofphere. It is well known that flame cannot long fubfift without a renewal of common air. The quantity of that fluid which even a fmall flame requires is furprizing: an ordi¬ nary candle confumes> as it is called, about a gallon of air in a minute. Now, con¬ fiding the vaft confumption of this vital fluid by fires of all kinds made by man, and by volcanos, it becomes an interefting inquiry, to afcertain what change is made in the air by flame ; and to difcover what pro¬ vision there is in Nature, to repair the injury done by this means to our atmofphere. Dr.. Priestley, after relating the conjedures of others, and not finding them fatisfadory, was- fortunate in falling upon a method of reftoring air, which had been vitiated by the burning; of candles in it. This led the way to the difcovery of one of the great reftoratives which Nature employs for this purpofe; to wit, ve¬ getation » lee by what 1 ncluction he proves his opinion. 1 It