m. ledoyen's disinfecting fluid. .273 
and nitrogen, although odorous, can scarcely be termed an 
offensive compound, but being commonly combined with sul- 
phuretted hydrogen, it then furnishes a highly offensive sub- 
stance. 
" The compounds of carbon and nitrogen forming cyanogen; 
of cyanogen and sulphur forming sulpho-cyanogen, and of car- 
bon and hydrogen forming light carburetted hydrogen, may be 
reckoned amongst the less offensive, although volatile ingre- 
dients of the putrefactive vapours, but which combine to com- 
plete the farrago of unpleasant odours. 
44 The compounds of carbon with oxygen forming carbonic 
oxide and carbonic acid, although fatal to animal existence 
when too largely respired, can scarcely be considered as offen- 
sive compounds. 
"To recapitulate: we may divide and distinguish the elements 
of animal and vegetable putrescent vapours thus : 
Dangerous, but inodo- 
rous. 
Remittent miasmata 
Typhoid miasmata 
Carbonic oxide 
Carbonic acid 
Odorous, but slightly 
offensive. 
Ammonia 
Carburetted hydrogen 
Cyanogen 
Sulpho-cyanogen 
Most offensive. 
Sulphuretted hydrogen 
Phosphuretted hydrogen 
Hydro-sulphate of ammo- 
nia. 
" Two methods naturally suggest themselves to the chemist 
by which such dangerous and offensive compounds may be de- 
stroyed or prevented. 
"First. To alter or otherwise form their component elements 
into new elements, which are neither dangerous, foetid, nor 
offensive. 
" Secondly. To fix certain of the elements so as to render 
the substances themselves no longer volatile, and consequently 
neither odorous nor offensive. 
"First Method. The principal re-agent heretofore made use 
of in the destruction of animal and vegetable miasmata and for 
the decomposition of the offensive compounds of hydrogen with 
phosphorus, sulphur, &c, is chlorine, the efficiency of which, 
is dependent on its great affinity for hydrogen, with which it 
forms hydro-chloric, or, as it is commonly termed, muriatic acid. 
Unfortunately chlorine is itself an offensive, irritating and cor- 
rosive substance, which will account for its not having been 
more extensively employed, although the cheap combination of 
