i88o.] History of Ozone . 147 
(as has since been more elaborately demonstrated by Houzeau, 
1872) many gaseous compounds of hydrogen, like those 
with sulphur, selenium, phosphorus, iodine, arsenic, and 
antimony. It discharges vegetable colours, and powerfully 
attacks many organic bodies. The nature of its adtion in 
the latter case has been more extensively studied by Gorup- 
Besanez (1863), and he has described the products of the 
reactions which occur when ozone is allowed to adl upon 
organic substances, alone or in presence of alkali. 
2nd. According to Schonbein ozone is insoluble in water. 
The observations of subsequent experimenters conflidl on 
this point, but there appears to be much evidence to show 
that it is soluble in water, though only in small degree. 
3rd. Schonbein pointed out that atmospheric air strongly 
charged with ozone adls powerfully on the mucous mem- 
branes and produces symptoms of catarrh. This and his 
analogous discovery that ozone is present in the atmosphere, 
and. plays there a very important part, attracted to the 
subjedt not only great popular attention, but enlisted as 
observers a multitude of students of medicine the world 
over, who hailed the newly-discovered body as an invaluable 
therapeutic agent, and rushed forward to establish by suffi- 
ciently numerous observations the relations between its 
presence or absence in the atmosphere, and the kind and 
prevalence of disease. Thirty years have passed away, and 
neither anticipation has been realised. Indeed, at the pre- 
sent hour, the possible value of ozone as a therapeutic 
agent is obscured by its having fallen into the hands of 
empirics ; and the multiplication of inexadf observations, 
and the crude and hasty generalisations therefrom, have 
covered with a sort of scientific opprobrium the whole 
subject of Atmospheric Ozone. 
What causes have led to these lamentable results in the 
past ; what prospedls are there that both subjects can be 
reinstated in good scientific standing in the future ? 
And first with regard to ozone as a therapeutic agent. 
Without considering at present the unsettled questions of a 
medical charadfer, as to the proper mode or amount or pro- 
priety of application, we apprehend that there have been 
hitherto three grave instrumental difficulties: — 1st. To 
obtain ozonised air or oxygen of known strength and of 
adequate purity. 2nd. It is doubtful whether in one form 
in which the attempt has been made to employ ozone in 
medicine, that of “ ozonised water,” any ozone whatever 
has been present. Such was the case with the “ozone- 
water ” of Krebs, Kroll, and Co., in which Rammelsberg 
