THE 



LONDON and EDINBURGH 



PHILOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE 



AND 



JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 



[THIRD SERIES.] 



OCTOBER 1833. 



XLIII. Notice of a Means of preparing the Organs of Re- 

 spiration, so as considerably to extend the Time of Holding 

 the Breath ; with Remarks on its Application, in Cases in 

 which it is required to enter an irrespirable Atmosphere, and 

 on the Precautions necessary to be observed in such Cases. 

 By Michael Faraday, Esq. D.C.L. F.R.S. $c. Fullerian 

 Professor of Chemistry in the Royal Institution. 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Journal. 

 Gentlemen, 

 HPHEJtE are many facts which present themselves to ob- 

 * servant men, and which, though seen by them to be cu- 

 rious, interesting, and new to the world, are not considered 

 worthy of distinct publication. I have often felt this conclu- 

 sion to be objectionable, and am convinced that it is better to 

 publish such facts, and even known facts under new forms, pro- 

 vided it be done briefly, clearly, and with no more preten- 

 sion than the phenomena fairly deserve. It is this feeling 

 which makes me send for your acceptance or rejection an ac- 

 count of an effect, new to me, and to all to whom I have men- 

 tioned it, and which seems to have some valuable applications. 



At one of the scientific meetings at the apartments of His 

 Royal Highness the President of the Royal Society, whilst 

 speaking of certain men who, by means of peculiar apparatus 

 for breathing, could walk about at the bottom of waters, and 

 also of the pearl fishers, Sir Graves C. Haughton described to 

 me an observation he had made, by the application of which a 

 man could hold his breath about twice as long as under ordi- 



Third Series. Vol. 3. No. 16. Oct. 1833. 2 I 



