Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-08-22

of the sulphate Of soda, while the manga
nese unites with the other atom of oxygen
and forms protoxide of manganese, which
again unites with one atom of sulphurc acid
forms one, ,atom of the sulphate of Maganese,
whilst the chlorine which has now lost its
companion the sodium is liberated uncom.
bined as gas, At ordinary temperatures
chlorine is gaseous fluid which, when per-
fectly dry, suffers no change by expos ure to
a Temperature much below 0o, but in its orr
dinary state it generally contains watery va
por. When nnmixed with atmospheric air
it is instantly fatal to animal life, aud even
when largely diluted with air it has most
i lpenefrating odor. Those who are seems
toned TO its effects, OF to work with It, grad.
ually become thin and emaciated, proving
that it attacks the fat of the body. Chlorine
is very heavy gas. It is ABOUT two and
half times heavier than the air which we
breathe its sp. gravity being 2,7O, air be-
ing taken as the standard at 100 1t is
gas only when at ordinary temperatures,
when subjected to pressure it is condensed
into liquid. Faraday, of London, was the
first to iquify chlorine. By very simple
glass tube closed at ore end, this tube was
made ofvery strong German green glass, he
put the materials for the production of chlo-
rine at the closed end of the tube then her
metically sealing the other end he applied
the heat of a spirit lamp to the mixture, the
gas was liberated and condensed at the other
end Of the tube into greenish yellow liquid
by this experiment FaraGay demonstrated
that for the conversion of gaseous chlorine
into liquid pressure of four atmospheres or
go los. per square inch was necessary
Chlorine like oxygen is a supporter Of com
buston, by which is understood that during
its combination with other substances it
causes the production Of light and heat
This is beau tifully illustrated BY the follow
ing experiments If into jar Of this gas
small quantity of powdered antimonv be
sprnkled, a white fame will be Instantly
! produced, with dense white smoke. An
other striking experiment is performed by
immersinga piece Of paper previously dipped
in oil OF turpentine into bottle or jar Of
this gas, when Immediately on the contact Of
the gas with the paper the latter burns with
large sooty flame caused by the great ex-
E cess of carbon contained in turpentine.-
!. Chlorine is powerful DESTROYER of bad
odors and infectious matters it is one of the
most powerful deoxidizing agents we pos.
sess, and on this account is extensively used
for purifying hospitals, infrmaries and eme-
grant ships Its deoxidizing properties were
preaching pUwuei or cnIoT1dd VI 'IirrIe IS ger
orally used this is a compound Of chlorine
with lime, and the gas is so very feebly
combined with the lime that any weak acid
has the power of liberating the former. To
show the great powers Of chlorine as dis
injecting agent, [ will describe an opera
:, ton performed on a large scale in the Lon
don penienliary. This penitentiary is a
:. large building situated in the low grounds
:. : near Vauxhall Bridge and is used as Grim
. inal depot; a few years ago contagious dis
eases broke out among The inmates, and these
i were Of so violent nature that the govern
!, ment determined to pull down the building.
- DR.. Fara lay solicited permission to fumigate
the building, as he considered that it had
become thoroughly saturated with noxlous
effusons and that although unhealthy, thi:
was not entirely owing to the bad locality
His request was granted, and he took the
~ following large quantities of ingredients'fo
= the fumigation, 100 lbs of common salt, 7O(
N lbs. Of magahese and IA lbs. of suphur
~ ~, acid he then put parts Of this mixture into
! small pans and placed these in every Gel
la room and passage of the place. The pee
49, pie and furniture being all removed, he the
- closed the windows, and into the several pan
= Of the mixture Of salt and manganese poure
ma a quantity of the sui phuric acid; the hous
! i was kept closed for several days durin
t;o which time the chlorine was being copou
f fDr " disengaged; the house was then we
81. ventilated and cleaned, the criminals replace
~ and since that day disease has totally di
i'm appeared. Chlorine is very powerful de
r,o troyer Of animal and vegetable colorin
,ad matter, and is the ingredient in bleachlr
100 100 powder or chlorine Of lime, which caus
- this substance to be Of such vast importan
49, 80, in the arts and manufactures. The propC
,;l ,;nb ty of decolorizing renders chlorine one
,;nn. our most valuable elements; piece of clio
.oa9 9 that would require many weeks, nay mont
eeo en for bleaching by the old process, may NJ
~ 80 be donein a few hours by the acid Of blea'
;Gp ;app ing powder. It is also by the acid of ch
,,,lI rne that we obtain the useful substan
raat writing paper, from those dirty rags VIII
- are collected all over this and othar countr
,lad At the celebrated manufactory of Mess
,on, Montgol6er, at Annonay, near Lyons, chlor
: gas is employed for this purpose with
4 n best effect upon the paper, since no lime
enb. chloride of lime, can be thus left in it.
,llod some pulmonary complaints the resprat
da9 Of air slightly tainted By the admixture
chlorine has been resorted to as a stimuli;
.,rud g 1t is not little remarkable, says Gregg
oon. con- that chlorine if very much diluted, altho1
nor. still apt to excite cough, is found to alIev
, sal sak the symptoms of piysis when inhaled, pl
t we ably by promoting expectoration, the
d. tients themselves soon learn to bea
Il n stronger and to long for the hour ofinha
,,,lor it." 1t is also said that the worker
and manufactures Of bleaching and dye wo
ronld where the air is always TO some extent ch
,und. ed with chlorine, are less liable to ptysis
h an others, SO that, up to certain Pc
hlocL the system seems capable Of econ
! ora ora habtuateG TO it with benefit The c
com. pounds of oxygen with chlorine now c
Clos under notice these are 1st. hypochlo
no Is acid, compound of one atom OF eho
aoom- united with one ATOM OF oxygen "a,
: % sai, rous acid, one atom of chlorine united
! ono ~ three atoms of oxygen Sd, hypochiorlc
,on one atom Of chlorine united with fouro OF
i la a. gen 4th, choric acid. one atom OF chlC
go, united with five of oxygen 5th' perch