ACTION OF NITROGEN AS MALARIA. 231 



of nitrogen are in excess of that proportion, a cor- 

 responding depression of the vital powers takes 

 place. Indeed, nitrogen in excess, or free nitro- 

 gen from decomposing animal or vegetable sub- 

 stances, constitutes the real miasma, or malaria. 



Decomposition of 'all organic substances ceases 

 with a reduction of temperature to that of frost. 

 This, therefore, brings a cessation of yellow fever 

 and other diseases springing from such decom- 

 position. 



These molecular actions and reactions in living 

 animal bodies are governed by the universal laws 

 of the planetary forces. When these laws are 

 countervailed from any cause, they produce sick- 

 ness and disease. The preservation of health 

 depends on a strict obedience to these laws, 

 which regulate the circulation of electric currents 

 through all the conducting nerves. A momentary 

 deficiency or reversal of these currents, by ex- 

 posure to a current of cold air, or by a draught 

 of cold water, or an excess of excitation by a 

 draught* of alcohol, may suddenly terminate 

 the existence of a human being on earth. 



Whatever may be the apparent cause of death, 

 its real cause is the cessation of the continuity of 

 the vital current. 



Then the axial and orbital forces resume their 

 sway, and in death the distinctive organs of the 

 human system are decomposed, and the whole or- 

 ganism is resolved into the carbonic-acid gas, 

 water, and nitrogen of which it mainly consists. 



