330 Memoir on aeriform cutaneous Perspiration. 



approbation of so celebrated a professor, I resolved to do so. 

 It was not suflicient that I was certain of the exactness of 

 iny experiments ; it was necessary also that I should con- 

 vince philosophers of it. 



Having collected with great care, in the spring of the 

 vcar 9, a certain quantity of this e.as, I lilicd with it a small 

 bell 10 lines in diameter and 8 inches in height. A taper 

 was immediately extinguished in it eleven times in succes- 

 sion. 



It traversed lime-water without rendering it turbid, and 

 without decreasing in volume. 



It experienced no change from aminoniacal gas. 



It produced no alteration in blue vegetable colours. 



Phosphorus which remained immersed m it for more than 

 a month had not decreased in volume. 



I thought these experiments more than sufficient to con- 

 vince me that the subject in question was azotic gas. 



I again transmitted the result to C. Fourcrov in the month 

 of Fructidor, year 9 ; but it is probable that the hurry of bu- 

 siness prevented him from returning me an answer. 



Having reflected a good deal since that period on the im- 

 portance of this discovery, I did not cease to attend to it • 

 but my ideas are entirely changed in regard to the conse- 

 quences which may be deduced from it. 



In letters written to Fourcroy, and particularly in the 

 last, I considered my discovery as a particular fact depend- 

 ing on a pathological state ; but at present I am obliged to 

 consider it as a general phaenomcnun belonging to the hu- 

 man species. 



1st, Because it is probable that the gas which passed so 

 abundantly through the skin of count de Milly was azotic 

 gas. One will easily be convinced of it by reading his me- 

 moir with attention. 



2dly, Dr. Ingenhousz, convinced from his own experi- 

 ments that an aeriform fluid escapes throuah the skin, be- 

 lieved that it was plilogisticated gas (azotic gas). 



Sdly, The idea of Ingenhousz is conlirmcd bv mv experi- 

 ments. 



4thlv, I some time ago met with another itidixidual who 

 perspires abundantly in the batli. The bubbles with which 

 he is constantly covered do not liquefy in the water ; they 

 are probably azotic gas : but I confess that I never made 

 any exact experiment on the subject. 



othly, The experiments made I)y J^r. Priestley, Fontaiia, 



and Jurine, which consisted in placing open flasks under 



the armpits, afibrd no proof against what 1 have already ad- 



3 vanced J 



