Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-02-26
From the Illinois Intelligencer.
DR.. WOODWORTH'S ESSAY,

Read before the .agricultnrat Society Of
the State Of Miuois, on tie ioth IF De
cem6er last
The Agricultural Society of the State
oil Illinois shaving, at their last annual
meeting, offered a premium for the best
essay, describing the cheapest and most
efhcient mode Of impeliiug machinery
by animal power or otherwise, as SUB
stitute for water, ard pointing out the ef-
tccts of dainming up ofwatcr courses on
the health Of the inhabitants the follow
ing essay is written with view of throw
ing some light on these subjects. But
as consider it 10 be the most natural
order first to point out the effects OF
damming mp water courses, and then to
describe the best substitute for water
power, shall follow this order in pur-
suing the subject.
In order that the first part Of the sub
iect may be the better understood, shall
commence with short description OF
atmospheric air in a state Of purity, and
the different gases with which it is ire
quently contain mated, and which are the
product OF putrefaction. The atnaos-
pherc air which we breathe, and without
which life is immediately extinguished,
is composed of two kinds of gas or air,
viz: oxygen and nitrogen; in the pro-
portion Of twenty four of the former to
seventy-six of the latter, with generally
about one per cent. OF carbonic acid gas.
Pure air seldom varies more than one
per cent from this proportions. ihs air
being received into the lungs at each
inspiration, becomes decomposed. A
part of the oxygen passing through the
exceedingly thin particles oil, the puiino-
nary cells unites with the venus blood,
changing it from a dark colorto bright
horid red, and giving out heat to every
part ofihe body as s passes through the
arterial system. When the atmospheric
air is composed of oxygen and nitrogen,
in the above proportion, the whole sys-
tenn partakes of its vivifying influences !;
strength and vigor is Impaired to the
body, and clearness and energy to the
mind. But when these proportions be-
come considerably changed, or when the
air becomes mixed with extraneous gases
or putrid calculations, corresponding
changes take place in the human system.
The functions are deranged, and diseases
are produced, varying according to the
nature OF the. atmospheric changes.
The gases which are most frequently
mixed with the atmospheric air are prin-
cipally disengaged from animal and
vegetable substances during a state OF
putrefaction. The principal of them are
the following, viz: ammoniacal gas, car
bonic acid gas, phosphoretted hydrogen,
supplemented hydrogen, carbureucd by
drogen, and azote. Some of these are
mostly the products Of animal, and others
ofvegetablc putrefaction. None ofthem
will support life, but some will extin-
guish it much sooner than others. Car
bonic acid gas, for instance, extinguishes
life instantaneously, no person ever hav-
had taken a full inspiration oft. Am
moniacal gas, being chemical combi-
nation of hydrogen and nitrogen is solely
a product Of animal putrefaction. 1t is
this gas which is the cause of the dis
agreeable smell which proceeds from
putrid flesh. Phosphoretted hydrogen
never produces any perceptible effects
on the human system, as it exists in but
small quantities, and burns when il
comes in contact with atmospheric air.
The combustion of this gas is supposed
by some chemists to be the cause of the
meteor called ignis fatuus. Sulphuretted
hydrogen and carburetted hydrogen ex-
list in sd small quantities that their effects
on the human system are not we'll known.
But azote frequently exists in large
quantities, and its effects on the system
are very deletcrious, in so much that
Professor Mitchill and others have
thought it to be the principal cause Of
all malignant autumnal fevers. Al
though it composes nearly three-fourths
of the atmospheric air, yet it is not OF It
self capable Of supporting life. An ami
NAL immersed in it, as we'll as in any Of
the above mentioned gases, quickly dies
Professor Mitchill has named this gas
septon or septic acid, from his belief thai
it is the principal agent in putrefaction
There is yet another gas or vapor which
is the principal cause of intermittent and
bilious remittent fevers, and which has
received the name of marsh miasma.-
Chemical experiments have never de-
ssetsd this gas, and it has as yet beer