† septon Obs.
(ˈsɛptɒn)
[mod.L., a. Gr. σηπτόν, neut. of σηπτός, vbl. adj. f. σήπειν to rot.
First in Fr. form septone, adopted by Brugnatelli, on the suggestion of Saltonstall, in Annales de Chimie (1798) XXIX. 181.]
A name for nitrogen, from its being regarded as the agent in putrefaction.
| 1798 Monthly Mag. July 26/1 The origin of the yellow fever is attributed by Dr. Mitchill to the putrefaction or spontaneous decomposition of such substances as contain much azote (according to Dr. Mitchill's Nomenclature septon). 1803 Med. & Phys. Jrnl. IX. 304 The gaseous oxyd of septon. 1834 Good's Study Med. (ed. 4) I. 712 The febrile miasm, and septon, or the elementary matter of putrescency, are the same thing. |