Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-08-01
Spirit Of tBs age 8aItigG, Natt5 GatoEtnss.

Phosphoric Acid whilst, again, in the ex-
pertinent with the iron wire, an acid has not
been produced, but an oxide, and this is CALI
ed the Oxide of Iron. Inthese examples you
perceive we have obtained two classes, name
", the les class and Gus class the names of
the acid compounds of Oxygen are derived
from their bases, and when there Is only one
acid compound it is usually designated by
the termination ic where there are. two
acids of the same base and OXYGEN, that con-
tanning the larger proportion of Oxygen, is
distinguished by the termination ics andthat
containing the smaller proportion, by the
termination GUS. Besides being n supporter
of combustion, this gas Is a powerful sup
porter of respiration. A small animal CON-
fined in Oxygen gas, lives about thrice as
long as when confined in the same bulk of
common air, but from this We are not to con-
clude that it is fit for the continuous support
of life. On the contrary, an animal made to
breathe Oxygen for any length Of time falls a
sacrifice to excess of arterial action, and if
after death the blood of the veins be exam
ined, it will be found as ford as that in the
arteries. Another property of Oxygen is,
that it is heavier than the atmospheric air.
In the late experiments performed by Reg
nault, its specific gravity was found to be l.
1856 as compared with pure air taken as 900.
Man is entirely dependent on the oxygen of
the air for life and health, it is this gas alone,
the presence Of which in the atmosphere is
necessary for his. respiration. Remove it.
from the air but for a second, and chaos
would Immediately come again the vital
!, spark of man and all the other animals would
quickly be ~extinguished. 1t is by means of
this gas, that we are enabled to manufacture
a great many OF our most beautiful dies !;
take for example Indigo. All the Indigo of
is derived from the we'll known
botanical species called Indigoferra: The
/ leaves Of the plants are collected, put into a
large vessel to steep, an. active fermentation
speedily takes place, which is completed
within ii or Is hours the liquor is then
thrown off into another ~cistern, at which ten
men are standing with oars or shovels 4 feet
long; called basquets. With thesethey pad
die or strike the water Tor an hour and q halt,
when the Indigo begins to agglomerate in
focks these increase in size and sink to the
bottom. The refuse liquor is now drawn off
and the indigo collected, pressed, dried and
exported to this and other countries for use.
By means of Oxygen, we are enabled to make
from the grape that, by some, much admired
beverage called wine, and by merely giving
this wine more Oxygen, we convert it into
vinegar. 1t is by means Of the oxygen Of
the air, that we are enabled to manufacture
HdledD4c llOH LOhi pig VI DdI lTOA. 1Hefe
is not a process in the arts or manufacture
which does not involve directly or indirectly
the agency of this gas. Indeed, it is far more
difficult to point out those operations il
which Oxygen does not lead an active part
than to say in which it does.
| have now informed you of a few of tn
instances in which this gas acts as our friend
but | must tell ysu also, that it is one of oul
greatest enemies. 1t has been the cause O
the burning Of som of our most extensiv,
factories and mills. The engineer with thes,
works has a custom of cleaning the mach
merry with cotton waste, and as this become
dirty and saturated with oil, he casts it int
some corner to be used in kindling his fires
As this heap accumulates day by day, If W
were to place our hand in it, we would b
surprised to find that it was warm. Contin
ne, however, string the waste, and in a sho1
time it will burst into flame. This is cause
by the oxygen of the air entering into com
binatiOn with the oil, and this combinatio,
causing heat fires the cotton. Again, we IL
hale Oxygen into our lungs every time VI
, breathe. This Oxygen has a great ~attraetio
for carbon or charcoal, and seizes that sui
stance wherever it can find it. In its pas
Z sage, therefore, through our bodies, it seize
l all carbon contained in our food, and immt
> diately rushes away with it in the form of
7 new gas, (which we will investigate when 0
> the Chemistry of Carbon.) This is anothe
I instance it may be said to be an enemy to us
? for did we not supply our bodies with foo
i (Carbon) for this rapacious gas, it would a
u tack our bodies themselves and take CarbC
from them. AS a proof Of this, take the e.
/ ample of one who has been starved to dealt
J The first few days of his fasting, we motto
7 that be begins to look lean this is the Ok,
gen attacking the fat: then he becomes wea
n unable to move; this is the Oxygen now b
sy with the muscles he then becomes ne
vous; the brain is next assaulted, when deaf
relieves the poor sufferer victim OF rap
cious Oxygen.
Before closing the subject of oxygen, a
low me to recapitulate a few of the mo
e. striking of our remarks. | have said that 0
"a ygen was more abundantly difused throug
- out naturesthan any other substance WI
which we are acquainted it forms 8-9ths
the weight of all the water on the surfa
e. of the earth; take into consideration t
'e vast oceans of the globe remember the m
O. jestic lakes of our own dear land. Look
le the ~queenly Amazon as it rolls its turb
s. waters to the main; still nearer home,
10 member our noble Mississippi bear in I
membrance then that all this water, Il
IN n weight of which it is impossible for US
calculate, contains eight ninths of it's weig
re of pure oxygen gas. To this add that 0
- atmosphere which has been calculated
LII extend 45 miles from the surface of the ear
a upwards contains 15 of its weight of pu
VI oxygen gas nor can We stop here, for
Is casting our eyes on the surface of the ear
\ we there find this gas to exist also in We
large proportions. 1t is upon this gas alo
OF that man and all other animals are depC
ue dent for life, for it is the only necessary 5
in the air which is required for mans inl
lation. In ending the chemical history
oxygen | would only say, if thou OH o.
en- gen failest
he "The pillared armament is %rottenness
~ And earth's base built on stubble."
ZEN