CHEMICAL SCIENCE. 245 



Despretz, and Becquerel, in which the views of M. Boutigny are 

 approved. 



INFLUENCE OF OZONE. 



IN the village of Roggendorf, in Mecklenburg, towards the end of 

 1846, slight catarrhal affections were prevalent; the air at that time 

 contained only slight traces of ozone. At the commencement of the 

 year 1847, these affections assumed the most serious forms of bron- 

 chial and catarrhal diseases, and whooping-cough affected a large 

 proportion of the population. At this period there was perceived a 

 considerable increase in the proportion of ozone contained in the atmos- 

 phere, and influenza was immediately developed. On the 9th of Janu- 

 ary, the ozonometer showed a still greater increase in the proportion 

 of ozone in the air ; the same day ten persons died of the influenza, 

 and the disease gradually progressed to such an extent, that on the 

 21st few persons had escaped 'it. During all this time there was a 

 perfect connection between the presence of ozone and the propagation 

 of the disease. Since sulphurous vapors prevent entirely the forma- 

 tion of ozone, it follows that the workmen employed in manufactories 

 in which sulphur is concerned should escape this influenza. M. 

 Splenger has fully proved that this is really the case. Haute Zeit- 

 sckrift. 



OZONE. 



BECQUEREL has laid before the French Academy the following ex- 

 periments and observations on ozone, communicated to him by Schon- 

 bein, its original discoverer. Schonbein procures a large quantity of 

 ozonized air by putting into a receiver of the capacity of 10 or 12 

 litres (4i litres being equal to one English gallon), a small quantity 

 of water and sticks of phosphorus, one half of the sticks being im- 

 mersed in the water, and the other half exposed to the air. The air 

 of the receiver is then heated from 59 to 68 F., and imperfectly 

 closed. When the operation is finished, which is ascertained by the 

 odor of the ozonized air, the receiver is inverted in a vessel of water, 

 to get rid of the sticks of phosphorus, and is then removed and shaken, 

 in order to wash the compound. This operation being finished, a cork 

 is fitted to the receiver into which two tubes are passed, one for the con- 

 veyance of water, and the other to conduct the ozonized air into ves- 

 sels containing the substances to be submitted to its action. Ozone is 

 also formed wiien the vapor of phosphorus and water is mixed with 

 oxygen gas. It does not form at the same temperature in pure and 

 dry oxygen ; it is the same in pure and humid oxygen at the usual at- 

 mospheric temperature and pressure. Phosphorus placed in moist 

 oxygen produces ozone at common temperatures, if the air be suffi- 

 ciently rarefied. Phosphorus, in humid oxygen at common pressures, 

 gives rise to ozone when the temperature is raised to 75 F. ; and its 

 formation takes place rapidly at 86 F. The presence of certain gases 

 in the oxygen produces the same effect as rarefaction, or increase of 



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