44-6 INfLAMMAfeLE SUBSTANCE'S. Seft. 229. combined with fixt air, it burns with a blue lambent flame. 3. The flame of a candle, a burning coa!» an eleflric fpark, and that produced by the ftroke of a flint, with fteel, lets it on fire. From whence it is evident, that the idea of employing this laft kind of light, in thofe mines where inflammable air hap pens to be found, is erroneous; though, as it always occupies the higher part of the fubterraneous cavities, on account of its levity, _ it may happen fometimes to efcape the aftioti of the fire. 4. When unmixed and pure, it extinguilhes fire. 5. If breathed, it kills animals. Thofe who pretended to breathe it with impunity, did not previoufly breathe out, from their lungs, the whole of the common air, that there was before. 6. It has a difagreeable fmell,when extrafled from metals; if over mercury, the fmell is better. That which is found in marfhes, fmells mu fly. 7. It is not abforbed by water, at leafl that which is extra&ed from metals, over which it may be kept a long time without altera tion ; but after one or two years, it is no more inflammable. phlogiflicaled air mixed with. In this fituation a fpark of fire pervades the whole inafs at Once, and produces that violent explolion. Editor, from Rofid’s notes. 8. Does
