The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-11-27 00:00:00

The proportions of silex and alumina are specified above ;
thus we see that granite, on which all the superficial strata
are superimposed, contains a large proportion of oxygen.
-All the earthy carbonates contain a large proportion of
oxygen, as the carbonates of lime, magnesia, barytes, stron-
tites, &c.
Carbonate of lime 28.5
magnesia 20.7
baryta .
strontia
The carbonic acid which exists in the atmosphere is composed
of,—carbon, 6.12 ; oxygen, 16.
The greatest source of carbonaceous matter will be found
among the coal formations and plunibago. According to
Thompson, the different kinds of coal contain only a very
slight proportion of oxygen, from about 5 to 13 per cent.
Plumbago is nearly pure carbon, with a slight trace of iron—
about 4 or 5 per cent. of iron.
There are several other sources from whence carbon and
its acid may be obtained ; but these statements are amply
sufficient to point out the great preponderance of oxygen
over carbonic acid.

It bas been supposed that from the numerous animals
continually abstracting hydrogen from the atmosphere, as
well as the human race, and the combustion which is con-
tinually going on in our manufactories and domiciles, that a.
period might arrive when our atmosphere would become so
contaminated that it would no longer be capable of supporting
animal existence.

Before entering on this interesting subject, let us first
consider this simple fact, viz., that the weight and constituent
parts of our globe are the same now as they have always been :
all may be changed, but nothing new added. By combustion
either of carbon, sulphur, or any other substance, the ele-
ments remain the same, and of the same weight, as before
combustion. The same remarks are applicable to the re-
spiratory functions. Every animal during respiration renders
incapable for supporting lite a quantity of atmospheric air.
We have now before us some of the leading circumstances
connected with the vitiation of the air.

Let us now apply this subject; and, in the first place, I
shall endeavour to prove that this vitiation, instead of being
injurious, is absolutely requisite for the maintenance of the
various living beings, both animal and vegetable, on the face
of our globe.
I admit that apparently this vitiation proves injurious to
animal existence ' • but when we search more fully into this
subject, we shall find that it is apparent not real.
In our closets we have often an opportunity of indulging
in the calculation of the damage done by our increasing po-
pulation, and drawing conclusions from thence, without duly
weighing what is also going on around us in the country ;
and we often also conclude respecting the density of our
own population, and the sources of renovation peculiar to
our own climate, without duly weighing that in all our calcu-
lation we must include the whole atmosphere and not a part.
As long as the various laws exist of diffusion—the currents
of air, rain, wind, and other disturbing causes--it is obvious
that if one portion of this mighty mass become permanently
deteriorated, so must all the rest, or what is the same thing,
every portion of it must from these laws be equable in com-
mixture.

Bat if this holds good respecting deterioration, so will it
as respects renovation ; therefore it may be possible that the
one may counteract the other, and, as I set out with the re-
mark, these local variations may be of inestimable value
to other regions of the globe.
That local deterioration does take place in some instances,
which are not compensated for in time to renovate the injury
done, is true ; such used to be the fenny marshes of Lin-
colnshire, and such is the case in numerous other instances;
but these blemishes are of so trivial a nature compared with
the whole surface of the globe as not to merit attention.
In all calculations we ought to look at the results, and not
upon the minute changes which are going on. For instance,
the germination of seeds is only a trivial portion connected
with the great change of germination to maturity. In ger-
mination carbonic acid is generated—the same in fermenta-
tion ; but the compensation derived from vegetation soon
achieves what had been deteriorated.

It is now an admitted fact that healthy vegetables give out
oxygen during sunshine and carbonic acid during night.
The counterbalancing effect of the quantity of oxygen dur-
ing the day has been called in question by several very intel-
ligent physiologists, and maictained with equal ardour by
others.

This question has been mooted by both sides, and the ap-
peal to facts has been equally vigorous—the one side asserting
that the animal kingdom always deteriorate, and deny that
the vegetables ameliorate the constitution of the atmosphere ;
the others admit the vitiation from the animal kingdom, but
at the same time uphold the doctrine that the vegetables
renew what had thus been deteriorated. But neither of these
antagonists have taken the field, I think, with correct data ;
they appeal to partial operations going on, instead of consi-
dering the results.
It is not at this time or that time vegetables are doing so
and so, and at other times the reverse, but we ought to look
at the results which present themselves • and I think if they
would do so a termination would soon be made of this long-
contested point. Though an acorn may deteriorate the air,
as I said before, during its germination, what is this com-
pared with the results of matured growth ?
The composition upon most excellent authority is this—
. Oak, Beech.

Carbon ..
Oxygen ..
Hydrogen

52.53
41,78
5.69

51.45
42.73
5.82

A person not conversant with chemistry would at once say,
why it is evident here is an immense consumption of oxygen,
and consequently a great deterioration of the atmosphere.
I started with the information that water contains 8 lbs. in
9 of oxygen gas. and that 7-10ths of the surface of the globe
was composed of water—here, then, we have a sufficient sup-
ply for all our wants—for the water of the ocean is computed
to extend as far beneath its surface as the highest hills do
above itS surface.

In the calculation above we have.... Oxygen 41.78
Hydrogen 5.69 47.47
Now water is composed of 8 oxygen X 5 proportion 40.0
1 hydrogen >I 5 .. 5. =45.00

leaving only 2.47 excess of what water presents by chemical
decomposition in the usual way, leaving a stock of deoxi-
dised carbon of more than 50 per cent.
Now as vegetables, by experiment, cannot absorb pure
carbon, but must receive it into their systems in the form of
carbonic acid, consequently, according to the data esta-
blished above, the whole quantity of carbon must have parted
with its oxygen to the atmosphere.
The equivalent number of carbon is 6.12, and of carbonic
acid 6.12 and 16 oxygen=--22.12, so that it may be readily com-
puted how much oxygen the oak and beech give off to the at-
mosphere.

COnsidering these results, and the innumerable quantity of
vegetables performing similar offices, it will be readily ad-
mitted that, instead of animal deterioration being injurious,
it will be found absolutely requisite for the maintenance of
vegetable existence, for as I stated before, we must take into
consideration the whole surface of the globe, and not an
isolated portion ; to do otherwise would be to confine nature
in the laboratory of the chemist.

We must next consider the manner or function by which
oxygen is given off during the day and absorbed during the
night, forming carbonic acid, and thus, as stated by many,
renovating during sunshine, but deteriorating during dark-

A.,1730•
Whether we consider the carbonic acid as entering by ab.
sorption through the leaves or by the. roots it is obvious, it
would require to be circulated and vitalized prior to its adap-
tation to the necessities of the plant. That light has an im-
portant interference in this matter, no one seems to doubt ;
neither is it disputed that oxygen is given off by plants
during sunshine. But it does not follow that all the carbon
of the carbonic acid thus liberated should immediately be ap-
propriated to the exigencies of the vegetable structure, it is
more consonant with vital phenomena that it should still
continue to circulate with the appropriate juices of the vege-
table, and be rendered thereby capable of appropriation as
the vegetable required, and combining with its necessary
quantum of aqueous pabulum. Now if we admitthis to be
the case, it is obvious that the decompositionof the
carbonic acid being suspended from the withdrawal
of sunshine or light, that an opposite effect would be pro-
duced, and that it would not be improbable that the super-
fluous carbon thus eliminated, but not appropriated, should,
when the stimulus is removed again, absorb oxygen, and thus
be thrown off during the night. Nay, it is admitted, that if