ACTION OF DIFFERENT GA&SES ON MEAT. l^J 



First series of experiments^ over water, begun the 25th of Ut set of ex- 



March, and ended the 4th of April, 1 808. periments over ' 



' ^ r ' water. 



The temperature of the air out of doors was always be- Temperature. 



tween 8® of Reaum. [50° F.] in the shade, as for instance on 



the 30th of March in the morning, and 5® R. [43-25* F.], 



as on the 25th of March at noon. 



1. Oxigen gas. 



The gas was obtained fiom nitrate of potash. E^p, ^ With 



let day. March the 25th. The meat is become evidently oxigen gas 

 redder, and even of a finer red than in nitrous gas. poush *"*^ 



2d and 3d days. The red colour has diminished, but the 

 meat has still a fresh appearance. 



4th and 5th days. The same. 

 ' 6th and 7ih days. The redness has gradually diminished; 

 and the meat is moister than that in nitrous or in hidrogen 

 gas. 



8th day. The meat grows damp; it begins to get livid; 

 and little hemispherical and almost transparent drops appear 

 standing separate from each other on its surface. 



9th day. The drops become more numerous, and grow- 

 gradually opake and whitish ; so that the meat looks as if 

 covered with small pox. 



10th and llth days. Putrefaction makes evident pro- 

 gress, the meat grows flabby, the moisture increases, and the 

 surface dissolves; yet the drops may still be distinguished at 

 the surface of the liquid, that covers the meat entirely. 



On the evening of the 1 1th day the meat was taken out, 

 after the jar had been replaced in the trough. Tt emitted a 

 putrid smell, somewhat alliaceous, having some resemblance 

 to that of phosphuretted hidrogen gas. 



The meat continued to putrefy in the open air, as if it had 

 been constantly exposed to it. 



The oxigen gas was not much diminished in bulk. It no 

 longer set fire to a candle, but a candle still burned in it for 

 a moment with a little brilliancy. 



2. Hidrogen gas, Exp. 2. With 



This was prepared by dissolving zinc in sulphuric acid di- hidrogen gas 

 luted with water, 



1st 



