ADDITIONAL NOTES ON CONTAGION. 277 



muriatic acid, it will exhale no bad smell for a considerable time. These curious, but 

 well-ascertained facts, naturally led us to inquire into the action of the oxygenated mu- 

 riatic acid, in correcting the putrid effluvia. 



"It is now well known, that almost all the putrid smells disengaged by putrefying sub- 

 stances, are owing to the extrication of inflammable air, or hydrogen gas, loaded with some 

 or all of the three following substances, sulphur, phosphorus, or ammonia ; and these sub- 

 stances do not give out any very disagreeable smell, except when dissolved in hydrogen 

 gas ; but in that slate we know the smell to be very unpleasant. 



" Sulphurated hydrogen gas, or hepatic air, smells very disagreeably ; but the hydrogen 

 gas in which phosphorus has been dissolved, often smells most intolerably, resembling the 

 refuse of blubber. The superabundant oxygen of the muriatic acid unites with the 

 hydrogen, and forms water ; and the sulphur and phosphorus, being no longer in a state of 

 solution, become concrete, and the bad smell disappears. 



" Though it is not yet proved, it seems very likely, from the experiments of Mr. Wall, 

 and others, that the effluvia from the human body communicating infection, is hydrogen 

 gas, charged with some animal substances. 



"Is it not natural, from analogy, to conclude, that if these were deprived of their 

 solubility in hydrogen gas, they would become innocent ? and may we not reasonably 

 suppose, that the oxygenated muriatic gas will deprive them, as well as other putrid 

 effluvia, of their solubility? 



" It certainly, I think, deserves a trial, which may be made at a very small expense, in 

 the following manner: 



" Take an ounce of the black oxyd of manganese in powder, and mix with it a quarter of 

 a pound of common salt ; put this mixture into an earthen vessel, and place it upon a 

 chaflng dish of coals iu the room where the person labours under an infectious complaint; 

 then pour upon it two ounces of sulphuric (vitriolic) acid, diluted with the same quantity 

 of water. 



" Oxygenated muriatic acid gas will be instantly disengaged, and perceived in all parts 

 of the room, and will at least destroy any putrid or offensive smell; and I am inclined to 

 hope, that it will likewise correct the contagious effluvia. 



" When this gas is extricated in too great quantity, it will excite a cough ; but I think 

 that will not be the. case with the quantity I have mentioned ; if it should, a less portion 

 must be used, or the mixture may be made without heat ; but we know that bleachers are 

 continually inhaling this gas in considerable quantity, without any disagreeable conse- 

 quences. I should think there could be no difficulty in doing it in the house of any poor 

 person; but it certainly might be very easily done in a fever-ward." 





