On Ozone. 133 



In 1851, Schonbein communicated to the Medico Chirurgical 

 Society of London the fact that the inhalation of highly 

 ozonized air caused a painful irritation of the lungs, a kind 

 of asthma, attended with a violent cough. Schonbein, 

 Schwartzenbach, Bockels, Desplats, and others, found that 

 animals compelled to breathe strongly ozonized air died from 

 affections of the respiratory organs, though Schwartzenbach 

 considered the pulmonary symptoms were secondary, and 

 that it was the nervous system that was directly attacked. 

 Dr. W. Ireland, in the Edinburgh Monthly Medical 

 Journal for February, 1863, states, as the result of his ex- 

 periments : 



1st. That ozonized air accelerates the respiration. 2. That 

 it excites the nervous system. 3. That it promotes the 

 coagulability of the blood, probably by increasing its fibrine. 

 4. Animals can be subjected to the influence of a considerable 

 proportion of ozone for hours without permanent injury, but 

 prolonged exposure always proves fatal. 



Dr. Day, of Geelong, who has for several years closely 

 studied the subject, more especially in connection with the 

 prevalence of epidemics, and most especially diphtheria, informs 

 me he has on several occasions subjectecl animals to air 

 ozonized by ether, and that they always appeared to suffer 

 from pulmonic disturbance. He told me that frequently, 

 while experimenting with ozonized air, he has been attacked 

 (to use his own words^ with a " most delightful sore throat." 

 On the other hand, it is stated, that in Algeria, where 

 bronchial and lung affections are rare, the atmosphere generally 

 contains a pretty full amount of ozone. The prevalence of 

 cholera and other diseases of the alimentary system have been 

 by many attributed to a deficiency of ozone in the air. 

 This fact has not been corroborated by some experimenters ; 

 nevertheless, that the excess or defect of ozone in the atmo- 

 sphere has some effect on the animal economy, more especially 

 in weakened or diseased subjects, cannot b© doubted. 

 Further investigation, with a patient gathering together of 

 statistics, will, I feel sure, be rewarded by a yet clearer trace 

 of this mysterious influence. Years ago my attention was 

 attracted by the marked changes produced in invalids^ 

 especially in those suffering from affections of the mucous 

 membranes, by the sudden and great accession of ozone we 

 sometimes get liere when the wind, after blowing from the 

 N. in summer for many days, suddenly shifts to the S.W. 

 and S., more especially when accompanied by rain. I have 



