52 DR. R. ANGUS SMITH ON 



at 57° Fahr., or i6° Cent., the amount from a certain 

 quantity of the blood was — 



57°, lowest tempe- 

 rature 



"210 cub. cent, ist day. 

 loo ,, ,, 2nd day. 

 170 „ „ 3rd day. 

 100 ,, „ 4th day. 

 Rising up to 72° 3 5 ^^^ ana( ^g^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^ ^^^ 



The temperature of 57° was not constant; there was occa- 

 sional rising; but that of 72° was maintained artificially. 

 As 57° was the lowest observed here, I shall take 100 cub. 

 centims. to be the amount at that temperature, and 397 the 

 amount at 72° : a rise of 15° Fahr., or 8° Cent., is sufficient 

 to increase the products of putrefaction fourfold. 



When blood alone was used it became too thick, and 

 the action of the atmosphere was impeded; it was a 

 sealed bottle to itself; it was therefore mixed with about 

 twice its volume of water and put into carboys so as nearly 

 to fiU them. The greatest care was taken to close the 

 carboys, so as to allow none of the putrid gases to escape, 

 as well on account of their unpleasantness and unwholesome- 

 ness as for the accuracy of the experiments. Nevertheless 

 there was a constant unpleasant atmosphere in the apart- 

 ment, which was the kitchen of the house, which I use as 

 a laboratory, and which could be shut ofi* from the other 

 apartments. When vapours of this kind come in contact 

 with solid bodies, a certain portion is left behind. In 

 other words, we are not dealing with pure gases, but with 

 gases and vapours readily condensable at the ordinary tem- 

 perature, and having condensation greatly assisted mechani- 

 cally by contact with surfaces. Water retains them, but 

 smooth soHd substances do so also. Furniture, walls, &c., 

 exposed to such vapours, and porous substances such as 

 clothes, retain them, and the long- continued action of the 

 air is needed to ensure purification. For this reason walls 

 require cleaning, and furniture must be rubbed; and a 



