PROCESS OF GASSI.FICATION. 19S 



and a half, and of air neatly three gallons* 

 On exposing the air to the usual tests, in order 

 to ascertain its quality, two thirds were 

 found to consist of carbonic acid gas, and the 

 remainder of nitrogen. If a mass such as this, 

 is produced by one individual only, during so 

 short a period, how immense must be the quan- 

 tity, which is generated by the whole human 

 race, as well as by the infinite multitude of 

 animals, and of vegetables, with which the 

 world is inhabited. The quantity of gaseous 

 matter, which is thus produced by animated 

 beings in their living state, it is probable, falls 

 far short, of that which is generated after 

 the actions of life are at an end, and after 

 dissolution is produced by the processes 

 of putrefaction and of fermentation* By al- 

 lowing the process of decomposition to take 

 place, in close and confined situations, a 

 facility is thereby afforded of collecting the 

 product, and of ascertaining the separate 

 nature of each. When the gaseous matter 

 which animals receive for the support of life, 

 during the process of inspiration, is com- 

 pared with that which is given out by the 

 process of expiration, the one is found to 

 be totally different from the other; a con- 

 clusive proof, that it is owing to a change 

 which has taken place within the system, 

 by means of which these new properties 



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