_John Evelin_, in the
100, 101, 103, pages of his _Sylva_, to which I shall therefore refer the
curious Reader that desires a full information of it.
Next, we may learn what part of the Wood it is that is the _combustible_
matter, for since we shall find that none, or very little of those fluid
substances that are driven over into the Receiver are _combustible_, and
that most of that which is left behind is so, it follows, that the solid
_interstitia_ of the Wood are the _combustible_ matter. Further, the reason
why uncharr'd Wood burns with a greater flame then that which is charr'd,
is as evident, because those waterish or volatil parts issuing out of the
fired Wood, every way, not onely shatter and open the body, the better for
the fire to enter, but issuing out in vapours or wind, they become like so
many little _aeolipiles_, or Bellows, whereby they blow and agitate the
fir'd part, and conduce to the more speedy and violent consumption or
dissolution of the body.
Thirdly, from the Experiment of charring of Coals (whereby we see that
notwithstanding the great heat, and the duration of it, the solid parts of
the Wood remain, whilest they are preserv'd from the free access of the air
undissipated) we may learn, that which has not, that I know of, been
publish'd or hinted, nay, not so much as thought of, by any; and that in
short is this.
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