"Dr. Rutherford, of Edinburgh, the reputed discoverer of , published his Thesis De Aere Mephitico, in 1772. His process for procuring the gas, for which he had the same general term as Cavendish, viz., mephitic air, resembled that of the latter chemist, except that he employed atmospheric air vitiated by respiration, not by combustion. This he passed through caustic potash, and tested by lime-water, which it did not precipitate, whilst it possessed the power of extinguishing life and flame."