44, REPORT—1862. 
Hence it appears that in the former case the action of the dissolved oxygen is de- 
termined by the action of the permanganate*. 
In order to investigate quantitatively the relation of these two actions, several 
series of determinations were made in the following manner :—A measured quantity 
of a solution of protochloride of tin of convenient strength was determined, first 
without dilution, and then, in successive experiments, after dilution with regularly 
increasing quantities of water. Immediately before and during each determina- 
tion, a stream of carbonic acid was poured into the flask containing the liquid to 
be determined, in order to guard it from contact of air. The conclusions to which 
these experiments have led are as follows :—(1) When the diluting water contains 
only so much oxygen asis sufficient to oxidize about one-third of the protochloride of 
tin present, the whole of this oxygen is appropriated in the reaction; (2) after this 
point, the amount of induced oxidation is still increased by further dilution, but in a 
continually diminishing degree, until it bears to the primary oxidation (that by 
the permanganate) about the ratio of 2:3; (3) still greater dilution produces no 
farther change. It has not yet been found possible to determine the exact ratios of 
the primary and of the induced oxidation one to another at that point at which 
the absorption of dissolved oxygen ceases to be complete, and at the final limit, 
where the induced oxidation has reached a maximum. 
With what other chemical actions are we acquainted which belong to the same 
class as this action ? 
Four examples may be adduced of actions more or less analogous. 1. The action 
of platinum-black, and other similar substances, in causing oxidation. These sub- 
stances, however, do not, so far as we know, themselves undergo any change; 
whereas the permanganate can act inductively only during the moment of its own 
direct action. 2. The action of nitric oxide upon sulphurous anhydride and oxygen. 
8. The action of pentachloride of antimony in presence of free chlorine in causing 
the formation of chlorine compounds. But in these two cases also an important 
distinction is to be noted. The products of the initial action, nitrous oxide and 
terchloride of antimony, are capable of combining directly with free oxygen and 
free chlorine respectively ; whereas the final product at least of the reduction of an 
acid solution of permanganate is not liable to reoxidation, and such a solution can 
accordingly be reduced ‘by many substances in the presence of dissolved oxygen 
without appropriating or conveying it. 4. The acetous fermentation. The fact 
that the oxidation of alcohol by free oxygen may be induced by the presence of 
other substances undergoing chemical change bears some resemblance to the fact 
here brought forward. It is not improbable that the two may depend upon a 
common cause. 
But no case that has been yet examined is directly and unmistakeably parallel to 
this action. At the same time, it is doubtless but one of a class. The action of 
other similar oxidizing bodies, such as chromic acid, and of other substances readily 
susceptible of oxidation, such as sulphurous acid, hydriodice acid, &e., in presence 
of dissolved oxygen, may probably present similar phenomena. With the action, 
in dilute solutions, of chromic acid on sulphurous acid, and permanganic acid on 
sulphurous acid, this has been ascertained to be the case. 
On Schénbein’s Antozone. 
By G. Hartzy, M.D., Professor in University College, London. 
In 1842 Schafhaiitl called attention to a fluor-spar, the peculiar smell of which 
he imagined to be due to the presence of hypochlorite of lime. Schénbein shortly 
afterwards found that it contained an oxidizing agent which Schrétter subsequently 
described as ozone. Schénbein has now repeated his experiments on a better 
quality of the mineral, and finds that the oxygen contained in it resembles that — 
yielded by BaO,; and that distilled water in which the mineral has been pounded — 
* Since reading the paper of which the above is an abstract, the author has become 
aware that this fact had already engaged the attention of the German chemist Liwenthal, 
who, in conjunction with E. Lennsen, has recently shown that dissolved oxygen is similar] 
rendered active in some other cases (Journ. fiir Prakt. Chem, 1859, part i. p. 484, an 
vol, Ixi. (1862) p. 193), 
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