The New York herald., 1868-12-13
OXYGEN LIGHT.

Lecture by Professor X. Ogden Doremus.
: II. Ogden Doremus, the well known chemist, last
night delivered very interesting lecture relative to
this very important subject, to very intelligent
audience, composed largely Of ladies.
On being introduced the lecturer prefaced his SUBJ
ject with few remarks, in which he expressed the
qualification he experienced In being enabled to con-
tribute to the cause Of religion and education by
means OF his science, the proceeds Of the lecture
being for the benefit of st. AIMS church
and the schools connected herewith. He
spoke highly Of the advantages to be
derived from q knowledge Of the science and
that 1t tended to accelerate the progress Of the race
and put within our control the means OF improve
ment by showing the relation that subssted be-
tween things.
The lecturer then proceeded to say that he pur-
pos ed entertaining his hearers with ghosts spirits
hobgoblins, the lass Of beings which have derived
their title from the German word QelSf, or the
synonymous Scotch term or the English word ghost,
more modernly corrupted into gas. Our race
sands OF years without knowledge OF its
existence. Toward the close Of the last
n @ eyoaon was wrought IN he chem
ical world by distinguished minister OF the gospel,
politician, philosopher DR.. Priesty, who made the
grandest discovery in the whole range OF chemistry
lie revealed the existence OF the aptitude which to-
night we are here to discuss. and great as he was in
politics, In religion, having adopted every variety OF
religion ana written several voluminous works con-
corning them that single discovery that he made OF
the isolation OF gas viii forever render his name i'm
mortal. He claimed this as an argument that
should teach our young men to study this science
besides those things which are new aud attractive
to the race generally In the way Of politics and re
Rion. In addition TO those higher themes that relate
TO the soul there were grand facts In nature which
are yet to be unfolded; little mixing only into them
had been granted. BY certain processes changes are
produced In substances. Mercury, commonly known
as quicksilver when subjected to heat for long time
when thus excited for long time 1t would even
change in character, and from almost liquid IL
could be made q solid. The solid body known as the
red oxide OF mercury when heated by the rays OF the
sun give of substance which is able to support the
burning OF q candle. We can produce this sub
stance BY another method VIZ by heat and by other
agents. One OF these Is known as manganese and
this IL Of the earliest methods known-the OF
the oxide or peroxide OF manganese. When the
heat Is applied 1t gives of portion OF this myster
Gus gas. Another process was to heat the chloride
It decomposes and gives on this body. II was
believed that mercury, when 1t was long SUBJ
tected to this heat, acquired an increased weight
because OF the heat, and this was designated az
phogistcated air, and when this by heat, was again
released snd set iee the gas tnat was produced
would prepare the phlogstlcated air, which, be-
cause OF It's valuable and vital powers, was desig
mated again as vital air, and now 1t is known to rs
oxygen. This dephloglstcaed air. this gas has the
power disappearing combustion OF a candle or OF
or little spark ame when placed In contact with
It. and as long as spark OF fire exists IL IL found
that IL can De stimulated into active combustion.
oxygen Is also made by the use of chloride OF pot
ash, but this dnode Ia a very expensive ope lie
would now call attention TO the new light. and II
would be seen that this was most important sub
stance TO fabricate and that the great prob.
lem at the ppesent time was how to make
II reasonably cheap. The gas that Is thus
produced cannot be detected by the sense Of
TASTE neither can II be seen IL Is very light, hun
dred cubic inches weighing about four grains while
the same quantity OF air weighed thirty-one. The
marvellous property Of this wonderful gas is that IL
does everything better than air. III 1t ls desired TO
have anything burn rapidly put II In oxygen. II an
animal would grow faster and better and live
longer put 1t in oxygen 0ne-iifth OF the air con-
sists Of this substance. The lecturer then
referred the fact that chemistry is gradually dis
covering methods which will cheaper the production
of this nvaiuabie agent, and stated that the gas he
used in mis- experiments and tests cost $3.50 per 1000
cubIc feet but that recent discoveries have enabled
IA 10 make IL ut from one dollar to I've dollars per
100 feet or he would put IL within the compass OF
the latest reports-Sl 20 per 1000 cnbic feet
This was the graDdest ard most important discOv-
cry of the century. As the revelation OF the isola-
ton or the oxygen was the greatest discovery Of
the century. so IL was the gratdest discovery
OF the age All we require is suitable apparatus ia
which are thin layers OF this cheap sunsiance--mag-
nate OF soda-aud pass superheated steam over y,
aud the result Will be that we get oxygen; tnen " we
pass IN the air ana 1t drinks IN the oxygen OF tlc
nr and then steam, and thus changc MternateH,
ihe oxygen is Filtered in the AR thc
manganigm absorhs within II, we observe