458 THE CHEMISTRY OF CREATION. 



particles of such matters, converting them into 

 water, ammonia, and carbonic acid, and in contact 

 with the saline matter of the sea-water, combina- 

 tions are ibrmed with it, which await only the 

 return of the waters to be washed away. Upon 

 yonder sands, and particularly near the debouch- 

 ment of the river, lie various slimy patches, 

 which, if analysed, would be found to consist of 

 the remains of decaying fish and marine crea- 

 tures, and of decomposing vegetable matter, 

 united with the detritus of the distant river- 

 banks, rocks, and mountains. Exposed for 

 some hours during the day, not only to direct 

 contact with the air, but also to the heat of 

 the sun, these organic particles become rapidly 

 altered, and frequently give token of the activity 

 of chemical decompositions taking place in them 

 by a sensible odour of sulphuretted hydrogen 

 gas. Probably ozone is active in these pheno- 

 mena. 



In addition to the exposure of organic par- 

 ticles to putrefactive decay by the departing 

 waters to the atmospheric influence, the ex- 

 posure of inorganic substances, comminuted 

 fragments of rocks, mud, and sedimentary mat- 

 ters of all kinds, to the same influence should 

 be considered. Alterations of their composi- 

 tion not complete before, are now completed 

 under the combined and alternate action of 



