EFFECTS OF OZONE ON THE AIK. 257 



changes ; and its amount appears to vary in an 

 exact ratio with the electrical intensity. We 

 may produce it in a room, by exciting an ordi- 

 nary electrical machine, when it is detected by 

 its very peculiar smell ; we obtain it during the 

 decomposition of water by the voltaic battery, in 

 combination with the liberated oxygen; and 

 Schonbein has proved that ozone is formed in 

 every process of combustion. 



" The use of this agent in the atmosphere 

 will, I think, be obvious after a very brief con- 

 sideration of the conditions which prevail during 

 the mutations of organized bodies. All living 

 animals and vegetables are constantly throwing 

 off from their bodies organic matter in a con- 

 dition the most fitted for recombination with 

 the chemical elements of the air. The gaseous 

 exhalations from all dead matter are also con- 

 stantly combined with organic particles in. a 

 state of extreme division. Thus the atmo- 

 sphere is constantly receiving exhalations from 

 the earth and its inhabitants, which, without 

 a provision for their removal, would speedily 

 become far more injurious to all forms of life 

 than carbonic acid . . . 



" Ozone combines with, and changes in the 

 most rapid manner, all animal matters, except 

 albumen in its fresh state. I am, therefore, 

 disposed to consider it as the great natural 



