0^f THE N0NAB30RPTI0N OF OXIGEN IN RESPIRATION. 



8. To obtain a more satisfactory proof of the presence 

 of sulphur, forty grains of charred expectorated matter 

 were kept in a state of ignition in a platina crucible, with 

 another inverted over it to exclude completely the escape 

 of gas, for two hours. After cooling, the smell of sulphu- 

 retted hidrogen gas was very evident, on the addition of 

 diluted muriatic acid, and even of water only. Silver was 

 tarnibhed, and pajjcr wetted withiiquid acetite of lead was 

 blackened by this gas. In some of the experiments, while 

 the charcoal was barniug otf from the charred expectorated 

 matter, I perceived the smell of sulphur, and perhaps of 

 phosphorus. 



(To he concluded in our next. J 



XIL 



On the Nonahsorplion of Oxigen in Respiration, in Reply to 

 Mr. Acton, by J. F. 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 

 SIR. 



229 



.Y former remarks on Mr. Acton's communication were Defenceof Mr. 



desi'^ned to rescue Mr. Ellis from the imputation of " per- Ellis against 



. . ^ i the cnir^c of 



verting the experiments" of Mr. Bichat. — My present aim self contradio 



is to defend the same writer from the charge of contradict- ^'*^^' 

 ing himself. «« If," says Mr. Acton, " two experiments of 

 an opposite nature, mentioned doubtless tb prove the truth 

 of the general proposition, can be considered a contradic-= 

 tion, then has Mr. Ellis contradicted himself.'' To this I 

 reply, that a general proposition may be supported by dis- 

 similar proofs, which require experiments of an opposite 

 nature, without involving any contradiction : and such I 

 take to be the case in the experiments referred to by Mr. 

 Acton. To prove, that air does not naturally enter into the 

 blood, Mr. Ellis quotes an experiment of Hales, who in- 

 jected air into the lungs of an animal, but it did not enter 

 the vessels. As a farther argument against this opinion, 



Mr. 



