Volume 2

An account of the experiment made at the desire of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on board the Union hospital ship, to determine the effect of the nitrous acid in destroying contagion, and the safety with which it may be employed. In a letter addressed to the Right Hon. Earl Spencer / [James Carmichael Smyth].

  • Smyth, James Carmichael, 1741-1821.
Date:
1796
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the experiment made at the desire of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on board the Union hospital ship, to determine the effect of the nitrous acid in destroying contagion, and the safety with which it may be employed. In a letter addressed to the Right Hon. Earl Spencer / [James Carmichael Smyth]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Smyth's manner (if there is no metal em¬ ployed in the veffel, &c.) is highly dephlo- gifticatcd or oxygenated nitrous vapour, and is alfo mixed with a large quantity of pure dephlogifticated air, which is extri¬ cated from the materials, and thefe fumes are/ not only not fuffocating, but have a very pleafant fmell. If the diftindtion is not made between thefe two kinds of va- *“■*' * — ^ — pour, it is to be feared that fome perfon, by accident, or in expectation of getting the nitrous vapour more expeditioufly, may' ufe metal veftels, or diffolve metals in nitrous acid. Extract of another Letter from Mr. Keir, dated near Birmingham, March 3, 1796. r-. ■ * ^ ~ '• • , j* 4 % j The difference between the white nitrous acid, (called, by Dr. Prieftley, dephlogifti¬ cated acid, and by the French chemifts, •acide nitrique;) and the red acid, called phlo- t