230 NITROGEN AS A DISORGANIZED 



silver, and leave the black carbon visible on the 

 surface. 1 



The impregnation of the blood by molecules 

 of nitrogen inhaled into the lungs from decom- 

 posing organic substances (of which it constitutes 

 a material part) facilitates a similar union of the 

 hydrogen and oxygen of the blood, in the form 

 of water, with the evolution of " fever-heat." Thus 

 the bile and blood, in cases of yellow fever, are 

 decomposed, and the residuary carbon or char- 

 coal constitutes the " black vomit." In the chol- 

 era, a corresponding resolution of the bile and 

 blood into water is manifested by the profuse 

 aqueous secretions, and the dark carbon appar- 

 ent in the collapsed veins. 



The large quantity of nitrogen in pure atmos- 

 pheric air is combined with just a sufficient quan- 

 tity of oxygen to develop, by the electro-magnetic 

 union of the latter with the carbon and hydrogen 

 of the blood, the precise temperature of 98 Fahr., 

 marked as " blood-heat." 



When the molecules of oxygen are in excess 

 of that proportion, an over-excitation of the hu- 

 man system ensues, such as is caused by nitrous 

 oxyde, or "laughing-gas." When the molecules 



1 Even light induces the electro-magnetic union of molecules of hydro- 

 gen with those of oxygen, in the organic substances of paper and collo- 

 dion impregnated with molecules of nitrogen, and converts them into 

 water ; leaving the carbon, deposited as black charcoal, to form the 

 shades in pictures produced by photographic processes. The excess of 

 nitrogen in yeast is the predisposing cause of the decomposing fermenta- 

 tion of vegetable substances with which it is combined. 



