68 Examination of Gases from Mineral Waters. [Nov. 28, 



The air was breathed over and over again by Mr. Floris, until 

 after 10 minutes' respiration its composition had become : — 



Nitrogen and argon 80'96 per cent. 



Oxygen 5*40 „ 



Carbon dioxide 13*64 „ 



100*00 „ 



An estimation of the argon was carried ont in precisely the same 

 manner as before, on 1297*8 c.c. of breathed air, measured at 17*2° C. 

 and 759 mm. pressure. But the air was breathed over water, the 

 requisite change of volume on respiration having been secured by 

 breathing into one of Dr. Marcet's counterpoised gas-holders. The 

 argon found measured at 17*7° C. and 752*3 mm. pressure, 12*85 c.c. 

 These numbers corrected give : — 



1196 c.c. of breathed air yielded 11*72 c.c. of argon. 

 100 c.c. „ „ 0*980 c.c. of argon. 



Calculating the percentage on the nitrogen, we have : — 



100 c.c. of nitrogen and argon of breathed air contains 1*210 c.c. 



This percentage is larger than that in normal air. One of two sup- 

 positions may be made : either the increased amount is due to the air 

 having been confined over water daring breathing, or argon is given 

 off from blood in greater amount than it is absorbed, when the compo- 

 sition of the air in the lungs is so much altered ; the former appears 

 the more probable supposition. In any case the difference is not 

 great ; and it would appear that argon, like free nitrogen, plays no 

 important part in the animal economy, save as a diluent. 



III. " Examination of Gases from certain Mineral Waters." By 

 Alexander Kellas, B.Sc., and William Kamsay, Ph.D., 

 F.R.S. Received November 14, 1895. 



A sample of gas of an inflammable nature, sent to Mr. Crookes by 

 Mr. C. Lothian Bell, of Middlesbrough, from "Allhusen's Well," 

 was sent on to us to be tested for argon. The usual constituents, 

 nitrogen, hydrocarbons, &c, were removed by the usual absorbents, 

 magnesium, copper oxide, &c, and finally by sparking with oxygen 

 over caustic soda. The only noticeable feature was the great difficulty 

 in removing the hydrocarbon, which for long resisted the action of 

 red-hot copper oxide. The circulation had to be continued for two 

 days before absorption was nearly complete. In one case (Kellas) 

 555 c.c. of gas gave 2 c.c. of residue, and in another (Ramsay) 



