has shown how the character of the air pro- | formed into oxygen. It parts with its third ducing the change can be further tested, so atom as in the mercury experiment, and thus as to render it certain that ozone only has loses its distinctive peculiarity. Thus we been at work. If air which colours the test- might be led to anticipate the results which papers can be found to lose the property come next to be considered. after being heated, the change can only be due to ozone, because nitrous and nitric acid (which have the power of colouring the test-papers) would not be removed by the heat, whereas ozone is changed by heat into Oxygen. Once we are certain that ozone exists in the air, we must recognize the fact, that its presence cannot fail to have an important bearing on our health and comfort; for ozone is an exceedingly active agent, and cannot exist anywhere without setting busily to its own proper work. What that work is, and whether it is beneficial or deleterious to ourselves, remains to be considered. In the first place, ozone has immense power as a disinfectant. It decomposes the products emanating from putrefying matter more effectually than any other known element. Perhaps the most striking proof ever given of its qualities in this respect is that afforded by an experiment conducted by Dr. Richardson a few years ago. He placed a pint of blood taken from an ox in a large wide-mouthed bottle. The blood had then coagulated, and it was left exposed to the air until it had become entirely redissolved by the effects of decomposition. At the end of a year the blood was put in a stoppered bottle, and set aside .for seven years. The bottle was then taken from its hiding-place," says Dr. Richardson, "and an ounce of the blood was withdrawn. The fluid was so offensive as to produce nausea when the gases evolved from it were inhaled. It was subjected by Dr. Wood and myself to a current of ozone. For a few minutes the odour of ozone was destroyed by the odour of the gases from the blood; gradually the offensive smell passed away; then the fluid mass became quite sweet, and at last a faint odour of ozone was detected, whereupon the current was stopped. The blood was thus entirely deodorized; but another and most singular phenomenon was observed. The dead blood coagulated as the products of decomposition were removed, and this so perfectly, that from the new clot that was formed serum exuded. Before the experiment commenced, I had predicted on theoretical grounds that secondary coagulation would follow on purification; and this experiment, as well as several others afterwards performed, verified the truth of the prediction." It will of course be understood that ozone in thus acting as a disinfectant is trans Oxone has certain work to do, and in doing that work is transmuted into oxygen. It follows, then, that where there has been much work for ozone to do, there we shall find little ozone left in the air. Hence, in open spaces where there is little decomposing matter, we should expect to find more ozone than in towns or cities. This accords with what is actually observed. And not only is it found that country air contains more ozone than town air, but it is found that air which has come from the sea bas more ozone than even the country air, while air in the crowded parts of large cities has no ozone at all, nor has the air of inhabited rooms. So far as we have gone, we might be disposed to speak unhesitatingly in favour of the effects produced by ozone. We see it purifying the air which would otherwise be loaded by the products of decomposing matter, we find it present in the sea-air and the country air, which we know to be so bracing and health-restoring after a long residence in town, and we find it absent just in those places which we look upon as the most unhealthy. Again, we find further evidence of the good effects of ozone in the fact, that cholera and other epidemics never make their dreaded appearance in the land when the air is well supplied with ozone- or in what the the meteorologists call the r ozone-periods." And though we cannot yet explain the circumstance quite satisfactorily, we yet seem justified in ascribing to the purifying and disinfecting qualities of ozone our freedom at those times from epidemics to which cleanliness and good sanitary regulations are notedly inimical. But there is a reverse side to the picture. And as we described an experiment illustrating the disinfecting qualities of ozone before describing the good effects of the element, we shall describe an experiment illustrating certain less pleasing qualities of ozone before discussing the deleterious influences which it seems capable of exerting. Dr. Richardson found that when the air of a room was so loaded with ozone as to be only respirable with difficulty, animals placed in the room were affected in a very singular manner. "In the first place," he says, "all the symptoms of nasal catarrh and of irritation of the mucous membranes of the nose, the mouth, and the throat were rapidly induced. Then followed free se other similar diseases seem peculiarly associated with the ozone-periods, insomuch that eighty per cent. of the deaths occurring from them take place on days when ozone is present in the air in larger quantities than usual. Catarrh, influenza, and affections of the bronchial tubes, also affect the ozoneperiods. cretion of saliva and profuse action of the | ods, though characterized by the absence of skin perspiration. The breathing was certain diseases, bring with them their own greatly quickened, and the action of the forms of disease. Apoplexy, epilepsy, and heart increased in proportion." When the animals were suffered to remain yet longer within the room, congestion of the lungs followed, and the disease called by physicians "congestive bronchitis " was set up. A very singular circumstance was noticed also as to the effects of ozone on the different orders of animals. The above-mentioned effects, and others which accompa- We see, then, that we have yet much to nied them, the description of which would learn respecting ozone before we can probe out of place in these pages, were devel-nounce definitely whether it is more to be oped more freely in carnivorous than in her- welcomed or dreaded. We must wait unbivorous animals. Rats, for example, were til the researches which are in progress have much more easily influenced by ozone than been carried out to their conclusion, and rabbits were. perhaps even further modes of inquiry will have to be pursued before we can form a definite opinion. The results of Dr. Richardson's experiments prepare us to hear that ozone-peri From Good Words. A LARK'S FLIGHT. IN the quiet city park, Between the dawn and the dark, Loud and clear, That all may hear, Sings the lark. Beyond the low black line Of trees the dawn peeps red; A fresh and glistening dew, And tremble through and through. And lane and alley and street A human shape comes, dark. While over the dew-drench'd green, "Mystery! O mystery!" Clear he sings to lightening day. "Mystery! O mystery! Up into the air with me; Come away, come away!" Who is she that, wan and white, Who is he, the stooping one, He has weigh'd the winds and floods; God is Brahma, Christ, nor Jove; The lark cries, "Praise to Nature's plan! Till the beast flowers up in man; Palid and proud stalks he, Lord of effect and cause, Till the voice in the cloud cries, 'Pause!' And he pauses bitterly On the verge of the mystery." O, loud and clear, that all may hear, Rising higher with "Hark, oh! hark!" Higher, higher, higher, higher, Quivering as the dull red fire Of dawn grows brighter, cries the lark; Tall and stately, fair and sweet, To all she sees her eyes impart She scents the air with nameless grace, What should the singer sing Unto so sweet a thing, But "Oh! my love loves me! And the love I love best is guarding the nest, Come up high! come up high! to a cloud in the sky! And sing of your soul with me!" Elbows on the grassy green, For the lark says plain, "Who sells his friend is mean; Better hang than drain The poison'd gold of the queenA whip for the rogue who'd tell The lives of his mates away Better the rope and the cell! Better the devils of hell! Come away! come away!" O lark! O lark! Up, up! for it is light, The souls stream out of the dark, O lark! Olark! hadst thou the might With musing cheek upon his hand. The years melt down as falling snow. O lark! O lark! Up! for thy wings are strong; While the day is breaking, And the city is waking, Sing a song of wrong - Of the strong man's agony, O lark! we might rejoice, Couldst reach that distant land, For we cannot hear His voice, And we often miss His hand; To the kiss of sister and brother; Is so different with each. ROBERT BUCHANAN. THE MEN WHO ADVERTISE. Containing an account of successful advertisers, together with hints on the method of advertising. AMERICAN NEWSPAPER RATE-BOOK. Containing the Advertising rates of leading American Newspapers arranged with an index for the convenience of advertisers. AMERICAN NEWSPAPER DIRECTORY FOR 1870. Containing lists of all the Newspapers and Periodicals in the United States, Territories, and Dominion of Canada; together with a description of the towns in which they are published. All combined in one large octavo volume of 872 pages, printed on fine tinted book paper, and handsomely bound in cloth. Geo. P. Rowell & Co. Publishers. New York. Price $5.00. JUST PUBLISHED AT THIS OFFICE: CLEMENCE D'ORVILLE; or, From the Palace to the Steppe. A Novel of Russian High Life. And CLELIA, from Family Papers. Translated for, and first published in America in, THE LIVING AGE. One vol., price 38 cents. NUMBERS OF THE LIVING AGE WANTED. The publishers are in want of Nos. 1179 and 1180 (dated respectively Jan. 5th and Jan. 12th, 1867) of THE LIVING AGE. To subscribers, or others, who will do us the favor to send us either or both of those numbers, we will return an equivalent, either in our publications or in cash, until our wants are supplied. PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY BY LITTELL & GAY, BOSTON. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. FOR EIGHT DOLLARS. remitted directly to the Publishers, the LIVING AGE will be punctually for warded for a year, free of postage. But we do not prepay postage on less than a year, nor where we have to pay commission for forwarding the money. Price of the First Series, in Cloth, 36 volumes, 90 dollars. Second " Third 44 The Complete Work, Any Volume Bound, 3 dollars; Unbound, 2 dollars. The sets, or volumes, will be sent at the expense of the publishers. PREMIUMS FOR CLUBS. For 5 new subscribers ($40.), a sixth copy; or a set of HORNE'S INTRODUCTION TO THE BIBLE, unabridged, in 4 large volumes, cloth, price $10; or any 5 of the back volumes of the LIVING AGE, in numbers, price $10. vision Now, as noblest in rank of our Sun's great children, see, Over dim waters and woods and hills, in the clear dark night-sky, Jupiter hangs like a royal diamond, throbbing with flame. Still in our starry heav'n the Pagan Gods have their station; Only, in sooth, as words: and what were they ever but words? Lo, mankind hath fashion'd its thoughts, its hopes, and its dreamings, Fashion'd and named them thus and thus, by the voice of its bards, Fashion'd them better or worse, from a shallower insight or deeper, Names to abide for a season, in many mouths or in few; Each and all in turn to give place, be it sooner or later. What is ten thousand years on the mighty Dial of Heav'n? O great Space-great Spheres !-great Thought in the Mind!-whai are ye? O little lives of men upon earth! - O Planets and Moons! Wheel'd and whirl'd in the sweep of your measured and marvellous motion, Smoothly, resistlessly, swung round the strength of the central Orb, Tremendous furnace of fire-one lamp of the ancient abyss Of an Infinite Universe lighted with millions of burning suns, Boundlessly fill'd with electrical palpitant worldforming ether, Endlessly everywhere moving, concentrating, welling-forth pow'r, Life into countless shapes drawn upward, mystical spirit Born, that man-even we- may commune with God Most High. Fraser's Magazine. SONNET. W. A. BY THE AUTHOR OF "LADY GRACE." POOR drifted flower, which this unthinking sea Hast thou a thought of dew? and when the light Slopes through thee to the cold unanswering sand, Do thrills and mockeries of growth expand Thy useless veins? Day moulders into Night As thou to nothing; but great Morn shall stand And quicken all the unforgetful land With glory, and the ready sky with bliss, Thou only unconcerned beneath a kiss Which wakes the world; thou, like a homeless heart, Movest no more, but diest where thou art! Good Words. |