estimate of the proportions of its radical and acidifying principles."
Notwithstanding Fourcroy's objection, there can be but little reason to doubt that Monge and Clouet did actually condense the gas, for I have since found that from the small elastic force of its vapour at common temperatures (being equal to that of about two atmospheres only[1]) a comparatively moderate diminution of temperature is sufficient to retain it fluid at common pressure, or a moderate additional pressure to retain it so at common temperature; so that whether these philosophers applied cold only as Fourcroy mentions, or cold and pressure, as stated by the other chemists, they would succeed in obtaining it in the liquid form.
Chlorine.—M. de Morveau, whilst engaged on the application of the means best adapted to destroy putrid effluvia and contagious miasmata, was led to the introduction of chlorine as the one most excellent for this purpose; and he proposed the use of phials, containing the requisite materials, as sources of the substance. One described in his Traité des Moyens de désinfecter l'air (1801), was of the capacity of two cubical inches nearly; about 62 grains of black oxide of manganese in coarse powder was introduced, and then the bottle two-thirds filled with nitro-muriatic acid; it was shaken, and in a short time chlorine was abundantly disengaged. M. Morveau remarks upon the facility with which the chlorine is retained in these bottles; one, thus prepared, and forgotten, when opened at the end of eight years, gave an abundant odour of chlorine.
I had an impression on my mind that M. de Morveau had proposed the use of phials similarly charged, but made strong, well stoppered, and confined by a screw in
- ↑ Philosophical Transactions, 1823, p. 192.
