The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-15
ABOUT OzoNE.



electrical machine.
But little was known Of this substance previous
to the researches Of c. +. Schuubein, Professor
OF Chemistry in Basle, in 1899. Since that time
much attention has been given to the inyestga-
tion Of its physical and medical properties.
Different opinions have been entertained as 20
the nature Of ozone. Schunbein, at FIRST, con
sdered it peroxide Of hydrogen. Oher iuvcs-
tigators have regarded il as d peculiar condition
Of oxygen gas-vhich opinion was at length
adopted by It's discoverer; but his original view
is now generally accepted-namey, that it is a
compound Of oxygen and hydrogen gases-a bin
oxyde or peroxide OF hydrogen.
WHERE FOUND.
Ozone is generally present in the atmosphere,
existing however, ia very small and variable
proportions. II is percepube by its odOr w1en
II constitutes but q milllonth part Of the atInO-
sphere. In concentrated condition, Il Is hguy
irritating TO the arpassage' its inhalation
Causiug severe catarrhal symptoms. An atmO.
sphere charged with l-lO,OO)th part OF Ol me
was found by DR.. Hammond 10 destroy birds
and nice IN a few minutes. 10 Is supposed that
d little more than l2OOO'h part would prove
fatal TO man. As, however, it never exists in
the atmosphere In dangerous excess, the only
evils attributed 10 10 are those of irritation and
Inflammation Of the pulmonary organs during
the cold season, when 1t is found in the largest
amount.
ITS PROPERTIES.
These can only be briefly alluded to. Those
which have excited the most interest are-l. It's
ONidiJng power. IL acts in this way with great
promptness and power ON sll mineral and organic
substances. It's presence in dew accounts for the
speedy rusting Of iron when exposed to this kind
of moisture. 2 Its bleaching property. In this
respect IL has no equal. The effects commonly
attributed to the solar rays are due to the inh.gnce
Of ozone. g. Its disinfectin- -ower, The agency
ofozUne in purifying the atmo, phere from noxiouI
Odors and miaSms renders it one Of the most
interesting and remarkable substances known to
chemists. No other agent acts 50 promptly 10
destroy offensive odors and to arrest decompo-
siliOn.
DR.. Hammond states that an atmosphere
charged with from to 3-2iO OOOh part OF ozone
Is able to disnfect its own volume OF air as fully
charged as possible with the Ouor of putrescent
meat There is reason 70 believe that it not only
destroys the OdOr Of deCompJsng animal and
vegetable substances, but that 10 also renders
innOCuOus those miisms which, originating In the
soil or other sources, are the cause Of great
variety Of epidemic and endemic diseases. In
alluvial regions tCvers have been found 20 prevail
COnCidently with deficiency of ozone, while ut
the same time contiguous elevated regions, where
ozone was abundant have been free from such
diseases. IL has been affirmed thUt the prevalence
of cholera has borne a definite relation to the
presence or absence of ozone.
These points cannot he fully discussed in the
present CONNECTION; but it scarcely admits OF q
reasonable doubt that wherever the atmosphere
Is iOu0Q bu1llClently OLOnlIed an influence IS
eXerted unfaYOraDe to the prevalence OF the class
of diseases alluded to. SchTnbein and others are
OF the opinion that ozone is direct and iuhucu-
tia cause Of influenza and Inflammation Of the
pulmonary organs. With this single exception
ozone affords a remarkable instance of the beuoi-
cent provision of nature for the preservation of
animal life and health through its wonderful
power Of keeping tue atmosphere pure and whole
some.
SOURCES OF OZONE.
Ozone may be produced artifcially in various
ways We have alluded to the action OF the
electrical machine which led TO its discovery.
Phosphorus immersed in water and exposed to
the hight of the sun evolves ozone, 1t may also
be obtained from the oil of turpentine exposed
in similar way, as well as by other methods
known to chemists. But the great source Of
| ozone in nature is found in the agency of cleo
triClty in connection with solar influence and
moisture. The passage Of electricity over
water evolves it. The sea, lakes and rivers
yield it abundantly, exposed to the solar rays
! 1t has source in thunder-stOrms, thus enabling
us 70 account for their well-knOwn influence in
purify ing the atmosphere. The affinity of ozone
for atmospheric impurities causes it 10 be rapidly
! destroyed during the time when the processes Of
! decomposition are most rapid, This may account ,
in part at least for the fact that it is more abun-
dant in winter than in summer; more in tho
country than ia cities more in elevated than in
low regions; and that it is seldom, II ever. found
in occupied houses. Requiring but few degrees
of heat for its production t is destroyed by high
temperature, as 2GS deg. f.
THE oZONOsCOPE.
The test for the presence Of ozone in the atmO-
sphere is founded on its property of deCOmpOsing
the udide of potassium. A piece OF paper or
cloth moistened with a solution of starch and the
ioddc constitutes the OzOnoscope. This test
paper being moistened and exposed to the air
acquires blue color, from the iodlde of starch,
if ozone be present. The intensity of the color
affords means of estimating the amount of ozone.
For accurate purposes and for records an instru-
ment has been contryed called the Ozonometer.
PRACTICAL DEDUCTIONS.
In this imperfect sketch we have only designed
to present 10 rural readers as briefly possible,
some of the principal points of interest connected
with this newly discovered agent II is interest
ing TO know that in the Laboratory of Nature,
substance is provided capable Of acting as an
| tidote to nOXious influences which would other
wise prove fertile sources Of disease and death.
| We have a test in the presence OF ozone, by
! which TO estimate the purity and healthiness of
the atmosphere, as, where il abOunds, impurities
| cannot exist. We are also Lhle to account for
| the beneficial influence of the air, of ele-
| vated localities, and Of pine forests, all of
| which are characterized by the presence Of
| this agent. The unhealthiness of cities Is duo
| to atmospheric impurities in excess which
| transcend It's dsinfeCtng power Lastly, as it
| is not TO be detected in our dwellings, we must
| infer that they contain an atmosphere least fit
! for respiration; and we are thereby taught how
| necessary is a life in the open air TO the best
| attainment of health The special care taken to
exclude the pure and purifying atmosphere from
| our houses during a large portion Of the year Is
! we'll calculated TO multiply cases of disease, as
| well as TO give greater malignity 10 those OF an
/ endemic character, which, from time 20 time,
J bring desOlation TO households. The subject has
| also bearing on the eligibility of certain modes
/ of heating houses Hot. air furnaces have been
long suspected of inuring the vital properties OF
the air. The relations OF ozone TO heat, and It's