"[T]he relation of the atmosphere to combustion demanded explanation, and the nature of the change which the air underwent when inflammables, burned within confined portions of it, deprived it of the power of further supporting combustion. At this problem all the active chemists of Europe were now working, but with very unequal success, owing to the false theory of combustion which the majority espoused, and the erroneous opinions which were current concerning the constitution of atmospheric air."