The influence of climate, and other agents, on the human constitution : with reference to the causes and prevention of disease, among seamen : with observations on fever in general, and an account of the epidemic fever of Jamaica / by Robert Armstrong.

  • Armstrong, R. (Robert) (Civil engineer)
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The influence of climate, and other agents, on the human constitution : with reference to the causes and prevention of disease, among seamen : with observations on fever in general, and an account of the epidemic fever of Jamaica / by Robert Armstrong. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    up. Part of the air was now displaced by two ounces of lime water, and on agitation, a slight milkiness was observed, and this was rendered more apparent, when compared with the same quantity of lime water agitated in atmospheric air; the mercury rose a little, but the air which had been absorbed did not exceed a hundredth part of that employed. The phial was again filled with the same air, and about half an ounce of liquor potassaj introduced, and the bottle agitated. On opening it under mercury, about the same quantity of air was displaced, as on the former occasion. It was, therefore, inferred, that the air from beneath the floor of the ward, was saturated with moisture, and contained perhaps a little more than a hundredth part of its volume of carbonic acid. No trace of sulphuretted hydrogen could be detected. The air, taken from the pits in the Pallisades, showed traces of both these gases. On using the same appara- tus, and introducing a piece of caustic potash, moistened by the breath, a slight rise of the mercury took place, but the absorption of the gas was about the same as in the air from the ward. On introducing a solution of the acetate of lead, it acquired a darker colour, but the tinge was very slight. A slight change was also appa- rent in a solution of sulphate of copper. Another bottle was now taken, and carbonate of lead (prepared from acetate of lead and carbonate of ammonia) introduced diffused in a little water. The change of colour was scarcely apparent. The water obtained from one of the pits in the Pallisades, had a salt disagreeable taste, and offensive smell; and had evidently percolated through the soil, as the bottom of these pits was about the level of the sea, and within forty yards of the salt