580 THERAPEUTIC ACTION OF CHLORATE OF POTASH. 
Without the constant influence of this agent, all the primary functions 
of the body, animal and organic, would immediately cease. Dr. 
Carpenter, in his ‘Human Physiology,’ says; ‘The introduction of 
oxygen into the blood is necessary for the maintenance of those peculiar 
vivifying powers by which the nervous and muscular systems are kept 
in a state fit for activity, and its union with their elements appears to 
be a necessary condition of the manifestation of their peculiar powers/ 
The sources of carbonic acid are given as follows : ‘ First, the continual 
decay of the tissue common to all organised bodies; second, the meta¬ 
morphosis peculiar to the nervous and muscular tissues, which is the 
very condition of the production of their power ; and third, the direct con¬ 
version of the carbon and hydrogen of the food into carbonic acid and 
water, which is peculiar to warm-blooded animals.' 
“In this question the author points out the sources of carbonic acid, 
but it will be observed that in all these changes the presence of oxygen 
is a prerequisite. The process of disintegration within the body, like 
that of the decay of all organised bodies without, is one of slow combustion; 
and in each the first product is carbonic acid, formed by the union of 
the free oxygen with the carbon of the tissues. 
“With every breath that we draw, and every motion of our bodies, 
oxygen is required to furnish the power which is called into activity by 
nervous influence. When we consider how universal and how constant 
are the demands for this vitalizing element, can we wonder at the mis¬ 
chief produced by withholding from the body its regular supply ? And 
when we consider how frequently this supply is interrupted in the course 
of disease, it appears strange that this subject has received so little—1 
might almost say no attention at the hands of the profession.” 
It is evident, from the above extracts, that it is the opinion 
of Dr. Fountain that the great benefit resulting from the 
chlorate of potash arises from its supplying the blood with 
oxygen, or directly promoting the arterialization of this fluid. 
He combats the idea that the chlorine in it has any value. 
“ Some considerations induce me to think it is not the chlorine but 
the liberated oxygen which constitutes the chlorate of potash a remedy 
of value in scarlatina and kindred diseases. If its virtue consisted in 
the chlorine alone, would not the inhalation of this gas answer equally 
as well, if not better? There is reason to believe that the decomposition 
of this salt takes place to a greater or less extent in all parts of the body 
in which the blood has free circulation, and that its peculiar power in 
all putrescent diseases, and perhaps in the various affections of the 
mouth, may be due to the nascent oxygen exerting its peculiar chemi¬ 
cal affinities at the instant of its liberation. 
“ It is well known to chemists that oxygen and other gases, when in a 
nascent condition, possess properties and powers which are peculiar 
to that state. In this manner gold is dissolved in aqua-regia. When 
the nitric and hydro-chloric acids are united, a double decomposition 
takes place by which nitrous acid and chlorine are evolved, and it is the 
nascent chlorine which acts upon the gold. In pure chlorine gas the 
gold would remain forever unchanged, but at the instant of its becoming 
disconnected from some chemical combination it exerts an influence of 
unusual character, so that even gold yields to its newly acquired power. 
Again, chlorine acts as a bleaching agent indirectly by liberating free 
oxygen from the water of the dampened fabrics, and it is in reality the 
