Infusion is the temporary or permanent alteration of a living organism's element makeup. The elixirs of the Ergon are an example of temporary infusion, while the occult element sciences experiment with permanent methods. Infusing humans or other creatures with element energy laced with tralaticon is a complex process that can be fatal if done improperly. Leading scienseers describe it as similar to mercury being shepherded through the body by selenium. If successful, the human is enhanced in some way depending on the element, though there can be side effects.
The effects of element infusion on humans are both physical and mental. Earth gives a deliberate and heavy aspect to a person while also significantly toughening the body to physical damage. The metabolism is slowed and it is conjectured that those infused with Earth would live longer as a result. Air makes one faster and “lighter" in mind and body. This allows an individual to survive falls or jumps from heights that would kill or severely injure normal humans. It imparts as well a quickness of mind and perception, however it does not raise "intelligence," it makes whatever is already there work faster. This includes metabolism and, opposite Earth, is conjectured to reduce lifespan. Water is harder to see sometimes than the other two. Physically, there is a grace to movement not related to speed or power that is attractive to others. Mentally, those infused with Water are able to make non-linear connections between concepts more easily. Regardless of the element, an infused person becomes more sensitive or aware of all the elements, especially the one they are infused with.
Infusing humans directly with tralaticon-laced elements via syringe is possible and used by cults (and later the Census Office) with mixed and often fatal results. Until the Apocalypse it was considered a capital crime in the Conduit Cities and the Ergon's elixirs were considered to be no different and treated the same. Use of impure tralaticon mined from Tralaticon Isle is the main culprit of nasty side effects as well as an improper analysis of a person’s element makeup. Most people have one element that is dominant, a truly balanced person does not exist in the same way psychological archetypes do not exist as real people. The more dominant an element, the higher dose of that element can be given, as if the person has more capacity to handle it. Impure tralaticon increases the complexity significantly, requiring exacting analyses not only of the person’s element makeup but also the percentage of purity of the tralaticon. Consider trying to give someone a perfect insulin dose after a meal. This is almost impossible to get correct and the side effects are commensurate with how far off the mark the dose was. Pure tralaticon is tantamount to using a constant rather than a variable in the equation, simplifying the process tremendously.
There are no side effects for Ergon who undergo the proper re-balancing rituals soon after imbibing the elixirs because there is no permanent change in their metabolism. However, with injection-based infusion, there is a chance of permanent change and element addictions are inevitable in these cases. A "topping off" of element energy is required at intervals unique to the individual. Subsequent doses are smaller and meant to stabilize, but they must be administered or significant health and psychological problems (up to and including death and insanity) arise as their bodies become dependent on a relative super abundance of a particular element and lose the ability to regulate it. There is a half-life to the element which varies for each person kind of like a charged weapon. Their spark of life eats away at the new element and the body has no mechanism to regenerate and re-balance like it naturally would.