150 Dr. Cutbush on the Formation of 



azote, and more lately Dr. Ure has denominated it prussine. 

 We know that cyanogene is usually obtained from the cya- 

 nuret of mercury, by heating it in a glass tube, and that it 

 is susceptible of combining with several substances, forming 

 peculiar acids; of these, the hydrocyanic (prussic) and fer- 

 rocyanic, are the most prominent and important. The com- 

 bination of cyanogene with hydrogen affords a triple prepa- 

 ration, distinct from that which has been called the ferrocy- 

 anic acid; for it is known, that prussic acid, as such does 

 not unite with oxyd of iron, as heretofore supposed, to form 

 Prussian blue, but only a compound of cyanogene and iron, 

 and consequently the cyanogene is changed into a new acid, 

 the ferro-cyanic. It is admitted, nevertheless, that the fer- 

 ro-prussic acid still retains a portion of hydrogen. The hy- 

 drocyanic acid may be obtained, however, from the ferro- 

 cyanite of iron, and by distilling the cyanuret of mercury 

 with muriatic acid; but then we separate all the iron from 

 the cyanogene, or decompose the ferro-cyanic acid in the 

 first instance, and in both cases the cyanogene combines 

 with hydrogen, forming hydro-cyanic acid. The cyanuret, 

 cyanides, and cyanidides are synonimous terms. We must 

 suppose, when we admit the formation of an acid, that cy- 

 anogene unites with the particular substance that changes its 

 character and properties, or acidifies it; hence its union 

 with hydrogen forms one acid, with chlorine another, with 

 iron a third and with sulphur a fourth, possessing respec- 

 tively distinct properties. Can we admit, however, that hy- 

 drogen is a constant ingredient ? That we form mere com- 

 pounds of cyanogene with a base, constituting cyanides, or 

 prussides, in a variety of instances, as when we calcine 

 blood, bones, horns, he. with potash, is obvious ; and we are 

 disposed to believe, that the putrefaction of animal and veg- 

 etable matter, under particular circumstances, often generates 

 cyanogene, and probably some of its compounds, as with hy- 

 drogen, which, in the character of highly deleterious miasmata 

 may operate powerfully on the animal economy, and produce 

 malignant bilious fevers. Miasmata of a particular kind it is 

 known, cause intermittent and other fevers ; and the whole 

 theory of dis-infe ding air, as with Morveau's preparation, or 

 chlorine gas, is nothing more than the decomposition of such 

 miasmata, and in all probability the separation of hydrogen 

 from its combination, the chlorine changing to the state of 



