292 RESULTS OF PUTREFACTION. 



formed at the same time is lost (152). It appears 

 that the mixture of these bases assists in the formation 

 of the acid, in consequence of the strong affinity 

 ■which they have for it, and that therefore they in- 

 crease the natural tendency which nitrogen has to 

 separate from the carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen 

 ■with -which it is united in organic matter. , 



773. Whilst animal matters are putrefying, they 

 commonly emit a very offensive smell: now, as neither 

 water, carbonic acid, ammonia, nor nitric acid can 

 cause this, it is evident that some other substance 

 must, at the same time, be formed. The fact is, that 

 the nauseous odor given off under these circumstances 

 is occasioned by the formation of sulphuretted hydro- 

 gen (182). 



774. Sulphur and hydrogen, though hardly able 

 to combine with each other under common circum- 

 stances when brought together, unite readily when 

 the hydrogen is in that peculiar nascent state above 

 adverted to. Thus, when organic substances con- 

 taining small quantities of sulphates decay, a portion 

 of the hydrogen, whilst set at liberty, combines with 

 some of the sulphur contained in the sulphates, and 

 sulphuretted hydrogen gas is formed. 



775. This gas is evolved in considerable quantity 

 during the decomposition of nearly all animal sub- 

 stances, and likewise those vegetables, such as cab- 

 bage, &c., which contain both nitrogen and sulphur; 

 though its odor is not unfrequently almost over- 



