A peculiar medium is formed within a fire, towards the composition of
which the fuel contributes more or less of its elements; which is made
manifest in a piece of wood or paper when held within the fire, being
brought to the state of combustion, and without touching the fuel,
(heat, be it remembered, is no more physical than shadow.) The like
medium is formed from the elements contributed by flame, and whatever
of elementary matter the atmosphere may contribute beside. High above
the flame of a lamp combustion and fusion are effected the same as
within, or in contact with the flame. Between the cupped hands this
medium is receivable, and may be carried from the flame of a candle to
the wick of a different candle just blown out, which it re-illumines.
There being little or none of the medium of fire attendant on a
detached ignited body, favours the conjecture that the fuel during
combustion contributes somewhat of its elements towards the formation
of the medium of fire. Hence, although not included in the nomenclature
of chymistry or any other, the medium of fire should have place on the
list of realities.
As all bodies include more or less of free elementary matter, which
excludes its equal in volume of the medium of space, so to admit medium
of space in order to cause change in the constitution of a body, the
body must undergo previous de-electrisation: the law is general.
The medium of space being the expanding and decomposing cause, by
means of its centrifugal pressure within bodies, to prevent its being
in excess and effecting such changes spontaneously, productive of the
decomposition of all things, all bodies are protected or retained in
their present condition by the electric matter within them, which
excludes the decomposing cause.
Within the medium of fire all kinds of bodies become de-electrised;
all suffer loss of electric matter, which is succeeded by influent
medium of space, the centrifugal pressure of which affects the several
changes to which bodies are liable previous to ultimate dissolution
into the elementary state. In promoting the de-electrisation of every
kind of body, and to the extreme, which no other individual medium or
menstruum can effect, consists the universal utility of the medium of
fire.