5 0 4> Dr. Davy’s observations and experiments 
removal of the carbonic acid gas by lime water, the residual 
gas extinguished flame, and was not itself in the least inflam- 
mable ; whence the inference that it was azote, or at least 
principally azote, as the presence of a small quantity of hy- 
drogene might be concealed, and escape detection. From the 
right pleura, about five cubic inches of air were procured, 
which consisted of 6 .g nitrous gas, or air absorbable by a 
solution of green sulphate of iron, and of 93.1 azote. On 
opening the chest, the wounds in the pleura were found 
closed ; the pleurae were of natural appearance ; the substance 
of the left lung was redder than usual, and that of the right 
was dark red, and it contained a good deal of blood and 
serum ; the bronchia did not exhibit decided marks of inflam- 
mation ; the right auricle and ventricle and the venae cavae were 
distended with grumous blood, and the left auricle and ven- 
tricle and aorta contained a good deal of liquid blood, which, 
as well as that of the venous system, had lost its peculiar tint, 
and had acquired a chocolate hue. 
The obvious results of these two experiments on the same 
dog, are, 1st. the absorption of the greater part of the carbonic 
acid gas, and the whole of the hydrogene introduced into the 
pleura, and the appearance, de novo , of a considerable quan- 
tity of azote :• — 2dly, the death of the animal in the space of 
. five hours from the time of admission of the nitrous gas and 
azote into the opposite pleura, the absorption of the greater 
part of the former gas without inflammation of the membrane 
with which it was immediately in contact, and the production 
of a peculiar change in the blood. 
Results so singular as these required to be narrowly scruti- 
nized. I have twice repeated the experiment on the admis- 
