Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1803-03-29
gIsranata aUar5fs-
TugsDAY, MARCH az

CITY, djS u"f 49, n
,.o important Undertaking, their atten'lo0.,
,sbcold 40, be confined 10 few eaies; but
,ehey thoald rcoder the remedy as extenhye !
- ,he evil. The fat that npiiAnSes are !.
,uafrierdly 20 hesl;h is numerically admit
red. bet The resfous arc, perhaps, net 70
generally unGeriioods as knowledge
g. 81 die latter may inpreis the former I'll
,aronger on the mind, fhall cndeavor II
ah,s clay 10 explain the aiaal mesos BY
axbich the arr we breathe becomes consa-
minated and unht for reiplra,ion.
Ii was iupp. fed, ill OF late, that at
sofoaeric air is homogeneous fubtfance,
ard il Was accordingly claiied among ele-
ments. But modern experiments have
proved that il is compounded OF three ei-
len.ial different airs, or gates. 10 one
hundred carts CT atmospheric air, il has
been determined, that there are twenty
feyen parts Of oxygen or vital AIR, ieyen-
~ two ofszot or impure, irreiPirable air,
and one Of caTbonic acid, whichis alto
unf,for refpira.ior. Thus It appears that
cut Of 100 parts Of ccmmon air, only II
are refpirable. Or. PfieGly bss proved
tina, in the atf CT respiration, the oxygen.
is AFFORDED in rhe lungs, giving ilight
yermiIlion color 10 tie blood ; that In
pafing from It's geGSoa, into concrete
aate,s an ex,sics'ion of hea, is produced.
A, the fame time part ofshe oxygen COM
bines with the cosiy principle in the blood
called csfbnn, and forms carbonic acid
gas, which, together with the azcs, is
f1[1rsS Thus il appears, that onthe oxy
genous principle depend the production of
heat, he dimiaution of the carbon, and
eoIoring of the blood; ard YET but CON-
parisiyely fmsil portion OF the air We
breathe is defined for thofe important pur
pofes. II is evident, thstwhateser tends
20 diminilh this vital principle. or encreaie
The other irrefpirable airs, mutf be III.
friendly 10 health. The cafes wh'eI
produces fueh effects are numerous; u
thar / may avoid the accriation Of pre-
iixiy, / aali ocrhue myielf to tie mof
Influential. All rhcfphorated iubaances
the vapor ofncw plsiiered walls, aid al
artificial fcenss contsminate tie air huE
lhall particularly irvefigate the dit
truiye agency of refpiratior, ccmbniicr,
ruTefaetiye.f fermentation, and ef!usia Of
fsgnate water.
1T. That refpiration diminifhes the OK
ygerous principle is evident. Al every
breath certain portion Of air is taken in;
the oxygen is AFFORDED, tie azot, and q
quantity of new formed csrhonic acid
gas, or Gxable air, is emitted. Thus
the vital parr is confirmed, ard the irref
Pirable airs enereafed ateveiy breath.
The continued respiration Of the numerous
inhabitants of city, together with thar
OF an inSeisy Of interior animals, many Of
whom are both aieltls ard cfenGye, muit
require immenfe furrlics of the oxygenous
principle. Bot an equal quantity is neeef.
fairy for the purpoies of combuifion fer
fame and animal life are alike ippported
~ oxygen, iince it has appeared, from
innumerahie experiments, thar the Pre-
Ence of that air is neceHsry to the exit
snce of both. /, has been aicertaired by
ihe experiments of Mr.. LsyoiGer, tha,
10 the combutiion OF pound of pbolrho
IRIS, one pound eight ounces of oxygen
Gas is continued. Compute from this da.
"a, the inmenfe quantity which is con-
tuned 10 culinary and nanufaetoral opera
tons In a city; and Imagination can
kareely fix bounds TO the calculation.--
Thus il fhould fsem, that the air of a
city mutt be ioon exhauGed ef It's vital
Ingredient. But Providence has inititut,
sdmsaus of aFording a continual fspply,
though unfortunately Tor cities, living
vegetables. the mott active agents in ma
'ore IN the prodstlion of this necenary
aif' never abound in them. While com
Dr.. Crar,ysrd explains fbis troeei,
y b. I'll n. II