THE BREATH OF LIFE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 84, 7 January 1928, Page 22

THE BREATH OF LIFE

If voti approached your neighbour on a cold winter’s day tind gravely informed him that his body was slowly burning away, he would probably eye you with grave concern. And if you further informed him that he now possessed entirely a different body from the one he had about five > years ago, he would probably send for a policeman. Nevertheless, both of these statements would be true (says a writer in the Edinburgh “Weekly Scotsman”). Lor every ■ man, woman, beast, and bird that inhabits this earth is slowly passing away into the invisible products, of slow combustion, and it is this combustion which promotes the warmth in their bodies. Furthermore, in the space of about five years their whole bodies may be entirely consumed and rebuilt again, without any visible change whatsoever. These remarkable events are brought about by the oxygen in the air we breathe. Oxygen gas is very like air in appearance, and when inhaled little difference is noticeable. It is usually prepared by heating potassium chlorate, although many "other compounds give it off on heating, such as red lead, mercuric oxide, 'etc. When different substances are burnt in oxygen, a dazzling light and a great heat are forthcoming. There are various substances, too, which will burn in oxygen and not in air, and a favourite example of this is a steel watchspring, which burns brilliantly, throwing out sparks. One of the most important uses for which oxygen is prepared is in poisonous atmospheres, such ns exist in sewers, cellars, coal mines, caves, etc. The oxygen is compressed in steel cylinders, and streams slowly out into an indiarubber bag. whence tubes convey it to the mouth The carbon dioxide breathed out is absorbed by caustic soda placed in the bag. Armed with such equipment as this, men can work without harm for houys in poisonous atmospheres. Divers, too, very often carry supplies of it, as do airmen who ascend to great heights where it is difficult to breathe. Oxygen, too, is invaluable in relieving cases, of distressed breathing, exhaustion, fainting, etc., often caused by’ lack of it. Oxygon is said to form 47.3 per cent, of the earth’s crust, and the mi ions of tons of rock which make «up the mighty cliffs and mountain ranges of the world'are nearly half oxygen by weight. Tn the four winds of heaven are contained enormous quantities of it, and larger still is the amount contained in the mighty seas Unit encompass the earth. plentiful supplies of this life-preserving element are perpetually insured.