108 
abundance of mucus in those complaints, by which the fine 
solid particles of the breath were entangled. 
In two cases of Whooping Cough it was also deficient, but 
as they were both children, the lack of organic matter may 
have been due to their age. 
In cases of Consumption also the total ammonia was less 
than in health ; but in one case of this disease associated 
with Bright’s disease a large amount of organic matter was 
given off, a portion of it due to urea. 
In Kidney Diseases the largest amount of organic matter 
of all kinds was found in the breath. The ammonia in one case 
of Bright’s Disease was 1*8 millogrammes in 100 minims 
of fluid, and urea was largely present. Perhaps this fact 
might be taken as an indication of the need of measures 
directed to increase the activity of other excretory organs. 
In one case of Ozona or Offensive Breath the total quan- 
tity of ammonia obtained was greater than in any healthy 
subject, but the excess was chiefly due to organic matter. 
One convalescent case of Fever was examined, and the 
total ammonia was found to be deficient. 
The air of a crowded Railway Carriage, after 15 minutes’ 
occupation, was also tested b y this method and in about 2 
cubic feet 03 millogrammes of ammonia and 3 millogrammes 
of organic matter were found. 
© 
With reference to the presence of organic matter in the 
atmosphere, it was pointed out that the subject was in no 
way a novel one, and that it had, during the last 30 years ? 
been very fully investigated by many observers, more es- 
pecially by Schwann, Dusch, Schroeder, Helmholtz, Yan den 
Broeck, Pasteur and Pouchet, but it was shown that it is to 
Dr. Angus Smith that we owe the discovery of the readiness 
with which living organisms are formed in the condensed 
breath of crowded meetings, and the determination of the 
actual quantity of organic matter in the air of different 
localities. 
Mr. Dancer’s calculation of the number of spores contained 
in the air was noticed, but a source of error was pointed out 
in the readiness with which organisms are developed in 
