192 PROCESS OF GASSIFICATION. 



not, under certain circumstances, constitute the 

 agent, or the patient in the production of gassifi- 

 cation. 



We have direct evidence that every orga- 

 nised system whatever, whether simple or com- 

 plicated whether vegetable or animal is in a 

 constant state of mutation, and decay; that all 

 are supplied with particular organs, by the 

 energy of which, the decayed particles are ab- 

 sorbed and removed from the organs to which 

 they belonged ; and that they are excreted out 

 of the system, as matter dead and foreign. 

 Independently of the solid and liquid matter 

 which is thus expelled, there is also an abun- 

 dant quantity of gaseous matter, which, in ani- 

 mals, is more especially expired from the 

 lungs and excreted from the surface of the skin. 

 The late Mr. CRUICKSHANK, and Mr. ARERNE- 

 THY, with the utmost labor and pains, have 

 made a variety of experiments, for the purpose 

 of ascertaining the quantity of gaseous matter, 

 which is excreted from the skin only. Mr. 

 Cruickshank supposes that the cutaneous ex- 

 halation in a man, during 24 hours, is equal to 

 8lbs. and 36 gr. and Mr. Abernethy, by a series 

 of experiments on himself, which he con- 

 ducted with the greatest patience and perspi- 

 cuity, concludes, that the quantity of liquid 

 matter perspired from the skin, in the same 

 given time, amounts to about two pounds 



