l8o COMBINATION OF MOLECULES. 



Organic substances composed of carbon, united 

 with hydrogen and oxygen in the proportions 

 constituting water (such as cotton, oil, and animal 

 fat), if impregnated with nitrogen, produce ex- 

 plosive substances, gun-cotton, nitro-glycerine, 

 dynamite, &c. 



A remarkably sudden development of reaction 

 ensues, when the molecules of nitrogen predominate 

 in a compound with carbon, as in prussic, or 

 hydrocyanic acid, in the proportions of 



NITROGEN 14 = 51.85 by weight 1 



CARBON 12 = 44 .55 1 PRUSSIC ACID. 



HYDROGEN i = 3.70 J 



When this unstable compound of prussic acid 

 is taken into the stomach, the carbon, instead of 

 being slowly dissolved into chyle by the usual 

 process of digestipn, unites with the oxygen of 

 liquids in the stomach with nitrogenous rapidity ; 

 and, probably reversing the direction of the electric 

 currents through the sensorial nerves, produces 

 an instantaneous cessation of nervous sensibility, 

 and the suspension of the vital powers. 1 



The presence of the molecules of nitrogen in 

 the compound substance ammonia (NH 3 ) hastens 



1 If the nitrogenous compound of prussic acid be taken into the 

 stomach in a considerable quantity, a nervous paralysis ensues, until the 

 blood coagulates and death take$ place ; but if the quantity be small, 

 only a temporary nervous insensibility follows, as was verified by the 

 writer in an attempt to make way with an obnoxious cat. The animal 

 apparently became dead in an instant, and was decently buried in a dis- 

 tant ash-pit. After a time, he reappeared on the scene like Banquo's 

 ghost, and, looking up reproachfully, began to shake off his shroud of 

 ashes ! 



