Observations on Combustion. 149 



To me no operation in nature is more simple. On these gaseous 

 electricities we live — they give life, warmth, and animation ; one we 

 inhale with every breath — the other we receive with our food. They 

 combine or become united by animal heat, and that union supports 

 animal temperature. In the decomposition of water have we not con- 

 clusive proof of the agency of the two electricities, one uniting with 

 the oxygen and the other with the hydrogen in the exact proportion 

 to form water again ? 



I have retained the name of oxygen and hydrogen gases, that 1 

 might be the more readily understood; but it appears to be very 

 clear that the oxygen and hydrogen of the water take no part in the 

 operation of those gases, or the effect they produce, any more than 

 they did in their own decomposition or formation.* 



The carbon of the wood appears to me to be formed by the hydro- 

 gen of the water and its electrical gas, combining or becoming solid 

 in the course of its growth, while a part of the oxygen passes off to 

 preserve the purity of the air, as it is well known that, by the solar 

 influence, it is exhaled from living leaves. 



This carbon of the wood is designed by nature, with evident wis- 

 dom and benevolence, to regulate the combustion of the hydrogen of 

 the wood, performing a very similar part with that of the azote of the 

 air, in the combustion and use of the oxygen of the atmosphere. 

 Hydrogen gas is freely disengaged during the ignition of charcoal, 

 while passing the vapor of water over it in an ignited state ; but the 

 flame is nearly smothered by the carbonic acid gas formed at the 

 same time. For if the gases thus formed and disengaged are made 

 to pass through a tube, containing a pint of cold water, the water takes 

 up the carbonic acid gas and leaves the hydrogen at liberty, which 

 naturally rises and is easily made to issue and burn in a constant 

 flame. 



The evidence 1 often observed in the efi:ect of water in combus- 

 tion made it very certain in ray mind that it would be ot immense 

 benefit to the community if it could be effected in a way that would 

 be regular, simple, and free from difficulties. It was this, together 

 with an unconquerable inclination and determination to follow it 



*If we understand the aulhor, oxygen is water iitiited with one electricity and hy- 

 drogen is water united with the other, and when they unite by combustion, the v/a- 

 ter of both is precipitated, and the electricities are evolved in the form of heat and 

 light.— En. 



