6 OCTOBER 1849, Page 14

THE CHLORINE GAS EXPERIMENT.

TO TLIE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.

3d October 1849.

Sut—Acknowledging your courtesy in the notice of my principle for the extinction of the cholera, allow me to observe, that though there is no special plan written down in books or stated in practice, hitherto, for producing an atmosphere of the chlorine gas limited in its range a method to effect that object may be readily devised through combined chemiCal and physical arrangement. The subject is altogether new, and perhaps it is premature to say that difficulties might arise in practice which would admit of no remedy. Our knowledge of chlorine does not date so far back; and, in accomplishing an end fraught with such incalculable benefit to aociety as that proposed, any difficulties that might start up are not to cause our immediate rejection of the plan. As the inmates of the houses are to be removed during the process of the fumigation, they are quite secure ; and the object con- templated might be easily accomplished by the simple act of strewing erery inch ef the surface level with the chloride of lime freshly prepared, (as it soon gives Off aportion of its chlorine to the air, and becomes comparatively effete,) and then pouring muriatic acid over it, were it required to have a rapid and abundant ex- trication of the gas. Ventilation is still in an imperfect state, and the influence and agency of partial or local atmosphere of different gaseous bodies is a subject almost perfectly new in science. Au atmosphere of carbonic acid gas has been ptopos. d for the immediate extinction of flame; and the recent patent for effect- ang the same object by the sudden development of an atmosphere of steam, is well known. We are as yet only making initiatory experiments on the agency of airial masses.

Where such an important and vital object is contemplated as the extinction of this most deadly plague, there would seem to be no risk in incurring the charge ef extravagance in the expenditure of the public money in a small grant to pro- secute this inquiry. If it fail, then science will be satisfied, and perhaps stimu- lated to farther researches in the right track; if it succeed, then the public will

reap the reward. .

Suppose an isolated dwelling, and its cesspool: I have no hesitation in affirm- leg that it could at once be put under the influence of a stratum of chlorine gas. I offer to do it. If the plan succeed in one case, it will also in many, and in any locality. Doubtless, it is not a scheme to be worked out at random, asit will demand both care and caution. We only require the opportunity to follow it out, and I feel assured, if the principles on which the experiment is based are founded in truth, theta can be no apprehension as to the result.