32. Why is the oxygen of the air mixed so largely with nitrogen?
Because oxygen in any greater proportion than that in which it is found in the atmosphere, would be too exciting to the animal system. Animals placed in pure oxygen die in great agony from fever and excitement, amounting to madness.
"As vinegar is to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to him that sent him."—Proverbs x.
Nitrogen is an elementary body in the form of gas.
It is chiefly found in the air, of which it constitutes 79 out of 100 volumes. It may be mixed with oxygen in various proportions; but in the atmosphere it is uniformly diffused. It is found in most animal matter, except fat and bone. It is not a constituent of the vegetable acids, but it is found in most of the vegetable alkalies.