29 
ON OZONE IN RELATION TO HEALTH AND 
DISEASE. 
BY B. W. RICHARDSON, M.A., M.D., F.R.C.R 
I HAVE undertaken to write a few pages for the Popular 
Science Review on the subject of Ozone in relation to 
disease. The subject is all novelty and all interest, so that 
those who have studied it, as I and some few others have 
studied it, are sure of a hearing when they communicate what 
they know in intelligible language. But for the very reason 
that the subject is both novel and interesting, it is necessary 
to approach it with caution, and certainly without enthu- 
siasm. The cold philosopher whom Bulwer Lytton has so 
marvellously depicted in “ Zanoni,” ZanonRs own guide and 
counsellor, would not himself have been too frigid in his 
philosophy to deal with this topic. Since the day when 
the word Ozone first became known in this country, I have 
made the subject before us a careful study, and eleven years 
ago a conjoint paper by Dr. Moffatt and myself was read 
at the Epidemiological Society, the key-note of which, 
paper was “ Ozone and disease.” But I confess that as 
yet I know very little about the matter — very little that 
can be called real and demonstrative. I feel as one of the 
crew of Columbus might have felt when, nearing the western 
islands of the Indies, he saw floating towards him remnants 
of trees and broken paddles and canoes, with flights of birds 
above head, and other indications that land must be near, but 
with no land in sight. I feel that there are many indications 
of the near approach of some great truth connected with dis- 
coveries on Ozone ; but the truth is either not visible as yet, 
or, being visible, is so dimly seen as to be indefinable. 
It is fair, reader, that I should give you this warning, and 
having made so clear a confession, I will ask you to trust me 
as a guide without hesitation or fear. I will direct the light I 
hold boldly on paths that are known, and if at any time it 
shall fall on paths that are obscure, the fact shall be stated, 
and no artificial path shall be described. 
The chemists have held a sharp contest respecting the true 
nature of Ozone. In general terms the word refers to a 
