John MayowIn 1641, John Mayow, an English chemist and physiologist, was baptized. His birth date is uncertain. Mayow is known for his studies of the relationships of atmospheric composition, combustion, and respiration. He noted both combustion and respiration use up only a small proportion of the available air. This he called spiritus nitro-aerous, which supported life and combustion (sometimes considered as discovery of oxygen.) The remainder of the air, he showed, does not support life, extinguishes a lighted candle and is insoluble in water. Mayow suggested that respiration is the source of animal heat, and that the foetus breathes through the placenta. He described the muscular actions around the chest cavity that are involved in respiration. |
