was collected a foot above its level contained 4·65 per cent., and that another portion taken the same distance below it contained 4·5 of carbonic acid.[1] M. Devergie has discovered the source of these discrepant opinions. He has found,[2] that, notwithstanding the high density of carbonic acid gas, the currents caused by the heat, disengaged when charcoal is burnt in a room, without an issue for the products of combustion, produce an equable mixture of gases at all elevations in the apartment, provided the air be examined while still warm, and not long after the charcoal has burnt out; but that, at a later period, such as twelve hours, the carbonic acid partly separates and sinks, so that, while the air at the top contains only a 78th, that near the floor contains four times as much, or a 19th of carbonic acid gas.
Disputes have also arisen as to the precise nature of the emanations from burning charcoal,—some believing that carbonic acid is alone discharged in such quantity as to prove injurious, and is singly sufficient to account for the effects which have been observed,—while others maintain that carbonic oxide, carburetted-hydrogen, or some peculiar pyrogenous vapour, may be also formed, and prove the real cause of the active properties of the vapour. According to the researches of Orfila, charcoal in a state of vivid ignition emits carbonic acid only, a hundred parts of the consumed air having been ascertained by him to be composed of 42 azote, 46 common air, and 12 carbonic acid. But when the combustion is low, a hundred parts consist of 52 azote, 20 common air, 14 carbonic acid, and 14 carburetted-hydrogen; so that not only is the air more thoroughly consumed; but likewise an additional poisonous gas is brought into action.[3] The difference thus indicated has been supposed to account for what is often observed in countries where charcoal choffers are much in use for warming close apartments,—namely, that the practice is attended with most danger when the combustion is low, and that it is unsafe to close the doors of an apartment till the fuel is in a state of vivid ignition. M. Guérard again maintains, that when the supply of air is incomplete and combustion low, carbonic oxide gas is formed in considerable quantity; and that this gas, confessedly a much more powerful narcotic than carbonic acid, is probably the cause of many cases of poisoning with charcoal fumes.[4] M. Devergie doubts the exactness of Orfila's experiments on this head, but gives no new analysis. He observes that charcoal-vapour gives the air of a room a peculiar odour and bluish misty appearance, the latter of which slowly diminishes, and in twelve hours disappears; and that possibly there may be both a little carbonic oxide and carburetted-hydrogen in the air. But nevertheless he is of opinion that the carbonic acid alone is adequate to occasion all the effects observed in man or animals.[5] Professor Hünefeld is of a different opinion, and has supplied the most satisfactory explanation of the important fact, that charcoal fumes are most noxious when the fuel has been just kindled and burns low; for he
