The reason why : $b a careful collection of many hundreds of reasons for things which, though generally believed, are imperfectly understood. A book of condensed scientific knowledge for the million — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The reason why : $b a careful collection of many hundreds of reasons for things which, though generally believed, are imperfectly understood. A book of condensed scientific knowledge for the million
John Stuart Mill · en
Because _oxygen_ in any greater proportion than that in which it is
found in the atmosphere, would be too exciting to the animal system.
Animals placed in _pure oxygen_ die in great agony from fever and
excitement, amounting to madness.
[Verse: "As vinegar is to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is
the sluggard to him that sent him."--PROVERBS X.]
33. _What is nitrogen?_
Nitrogen is an elementary body in the form of gas.
34. _Where is nitrogen found?_
It is chiefly found in the air, of which it constitutes 79 out of 100
volumes. It may be mixed with oxygen in various proportions; but in the
atmosphere it is uniformly diffused. It is found in most animal matter,
_except fat and bone_. It is not a constituent of the _vegetable
acids_, but it is found in most of the _vegetable alkalies_.
35. _What are acids?_
Acids are a numerous class of chemical bodies. They are generally sour.
Usually (though there are exceptions) they have a great affinity for
water, and are easily soluble therein; they unite readily with most
_alkalies_, and with the various _oxides_. All acids are compounds of
two or more substances. Acids are found in all the kingdoms of nature.
36. _What are alkalies?_
Alkalies are a numerous class of substances that have a great affinity
for, and readily combine with, _acids_, forming _salts_. They exercise
peculiar influence upon vegetable colours, turning blues green, and
yellows reddish brown. But they will restore the colours of vegetable
blues which have been reddened by _acids_; and, on the other hand,
the _acids_ restore vegetable colours that have been altered by the
_alkalies_. Alkalies are found in all the kingdoms of nature.
37. _Could animals live in nitrogen?_
No; they would immediately die. But a mixture of _oxygen_ and
_nitrogen_, in equal volumes, constitutes _nitrous oxide_, which gives
a pleasurable excitement to those who inhale it, causing them to be
merry, almost to insanity; it has, therefore, been called _laughing
gas_.
38. _Why does nitrous oxide produce this effect?_
Because it introduces into the body more _oxygen_ than can be consumed.
It, therefore, deranges the nervous system, and being a powerful
stimulant, gives an unnatural activity to the nervous centres and the
brain.
[Verse: "Lord, make me know mine end, and the measure of my days,
that I may know how frail I am."--PSALM XXXIX.]
39. _In what proportions are the atmospheric gases found in the blood?_
The mean quantity of the gases contained in the human blood has been
found to be equal to 1-10th of its whole volume. In _venous_ blood, the
average quantity of _carbonic acid_ is about 1-18th, that of _oxygen_
about 1-85th, and that of _nitrogen_ about 1-100th of the volume of
the blood. In _arterial_ blood their quantities have been found to be
_carbonic acid_ about 1-14th, _oxygen_ about 1-38th, and _nitrogen_
about 1-72nd.
40. _Then is nitrogen taken into the blood from the air?_