The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-05-13
ozoNoMETRY,

has, Wllnln IL very lew years past, Deen IN
troduced to new and extremely interest
ing branch of science which, judging from
the appearance of natural phenomena now
occurring, is likely to be of special con
Germ in these ATTITUDES, during the present
year.
Ozone is electrified oxygen, which may
be easily produced by the sklful chemist
in his laboratory The name is derived
from Greek word, meaning to smell, be-
cause the fluid has peculiar odor, which
keen nostrils detect during the prevalence
OF tempest. The atmosphere, normally
containing 81 parts of oxygen, it is easy to
comprehend that the electricity of the air
operates upon it, with effects that vary
according to the proportions of the mix
ture.
Ozonometry is the art and method of mea-
surfing the quality of ozone to be found in
the atmosphere. The usual plan for doing
this is to expose, in the open air, certain
strips OF peculiar kind of paper, impreg-
mated with a skilfully compounded chemi-
cal preparation. This paper is carefully
shielded from rain and sunshine, and is left
out, experimentally, for space of12 hours,
generally from six in the morning until six
in the evening. The paper is then damp
ened with few drops Of filtered, or, better
than that, of distilled water, and thereupon
it Immediately, assumes violet-b blue col
or, which is the deeper, according to the
greater or less extent to which the oxygen
is electrified. The tint thus obtained is
compared with regular scale on which
all the colors and hues are numbered. Its
degree of intensity may thus be distinctly
defined and marked. The scale in cues
ton is called a Ch10mdtic Gamat, because
the half-tints are registered just like musi-
cal tones and semi-tones.
The application of ozonometry is to dis
cover the condition of the atmosphere, at
given times, and thus throw light upon its
influence in the production ofepidemic and
other diseases, particularly the Cholera, the
Cattle Plague, the relapsing fever, small
pox, etc., etc.
1t has been shown, by the researches of
recent years, that oxygen is modified by
electricity just as phosphorus and sulphur
are. DR.. Berigny, at Versailles, in France,
was among the first to experiment on ozone,
and his memoir to the Academy of Sciences
is very able and curious document. He
distinctly connected the fluctuations in the
supply of ozone with the changes of the sea-
sons the pressure on the barometer and
thermometer, the condition of the sky, and
the direction and force of the wind.
The ozonometrical curves of 1864 enabled
him to make the following deduction, viz:
that there never is q maximum of ozone
that does not correspond with the presence
of a tempest in Europe, or on the Atlantic,
within sight of the English and French
coasts.
Certain minimum degrees of ozone indi-
cate the same thing, but, in such cases, the
storm is always driven off Southwark, be-
fore attaining the meridian of Paris, and
sweeps over Spain and the Pyrenees, on its
way to the Mediterranean. The celebration
of the index paper at Paris is very strong
when the storm RACES in England or France
and even when it bursts much farther to the
Northward.
The use to which these symptoms could
be turned is very evident, since they aid
the agriculturist and navigator, as we'll as
the physician and surgeon. The celebrated
Leverrier, assisted by Messrs. Becquerel
and Frenzy, has rendered good service in
this new and curious walk of science, not
merely by his own laborious and persistent
experiments, but by sending ozonometrc
boxes to all the Departments, with scales
and Instructions, so as to secure general
uniformity ofobservation. M. Marie Davy
has shown that the phenomena of ozone are
of universal character, and are not limi-
ted by the locality over which they pass,
excepting in the most accidental manner
They generally follow the advance of the
Storm and it is when the South West wind
the breeder oftempests,- blowing that
the fluid reaches its utmost intensity. The
phenomenon, therefore, thinks Leverrier, is
probably due to electricity, and is produced
along with the latter. The storms that
sweep over the open sea affect the needle
of the compass, and the broad inference
would seem to be that there is sort of
general phenomenon involved, Of which
electricity is the prime motor or chiefagent.
In such case, the practical, as well as scien-
titic mind, will readily perceive how great
an auxiliary the science of ozononetry may
become, in attaining the point where we
( shall have an actual serviceable foreknowl-
edge of atmospheric phenomena, and the
origin and march Of epidemics.-N. Y.
Nercdn. Journal