The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-03 00:00:00

ANTIQUITY OF MAN.

Rev. E. Burgess, on the 23d ult., completed his
course of twelve lectures before the Lowell Institute,
on the Antiquity of Man. This discussion at the
present time is very opportune, especially as facts, or
supposed facts, arc continually brought to light, upon
which is based the conclusion that man has existed
on earth for a period much longer than the com-
monly received chronology allows.
A prominent feature in the lectures of Mr. Bur-
gess was the presentation of facts—facts from every
source which have a bearing on the subject. There
has been a vast amount of speculation and inference
in reference to this subject which, as Mr. B. thinks,
is not sound. His object was to present facts from
history, from language, from ethnology and mytho-
logy, and likewise give an impartial examination of
the facts of geological science.

In the argument from history, language, ethno-
logy and mythology, the conclusion arrived at was,
that there is nothing in the records of the nations of
antiquity which conflicts with the chronology of the
Mosaic records, but much, very much, that confirms
it. Mr. Burgess does not assume that the chrono-
logy of the Bible is correct ; but he attempts to show
that if it is not correct, there is nothing in the re-
cords of any of the heathen nations, or in the facts
of linguistic and ethnic science that can correct it,
much less set it aside.

One lecture was devoted to the Unity of the Race,
to the theory of Agassiz in particular, that makes
eight centres of creation for mankind. Agassiz was
confronted by men of his own profession and stand-
ing, who pronounce his theory untenable on scien-
tific grounds. Although Professor Agassiz's theory
makes eight distinct primeval pairs, yet he regards
all mankind as belonging to one species. This mul-
tiple of protoplasts for a single species distinguished
naturalists pronounce to be absurd.
In the argument from geology, the leading facts
from this science that have been relied upon to prove
a high human antiquity were examined, and from
other indisputable facts, and from the opinions and
admissions of geologists themselves, it was shown
that the facts relied upon involve so many elements
of doubt, that they do not prove what they are alleged
to prove. In short, the conclusion was, that geological
science not only has not proved a higher human
antiquity than the Mosaic record 3 allow, but has
not even rendered such an antiquity probable.—
Watchman and Reflector.

BEEF PACKING IN TEXAS.

THE PROCESS OF CURING MEAT BY INFILTRATION.

The editor of the Corpus Christi (Texas) Ad-
vertiser, in his paper of Jan. 26, gives a long and
interesting account of the new process of curing
beef by infiltration, as seen under his own eyes.
If this new method succeeds, and the men who
have taken hold of it never fail in anything they
undertake, the result will be of immense benefit to
the stock-rising interests of the Nueces region, and
to the whole State of Texas for that matter. We
Copy the account of the first day's work entire :
Per invitation of Mr. Turner, we were "in at
the death" of the first beef at the Nueces beef-
packing establishment on Wednesday morning last.
Quite a crowd of visitors, attracted by curiosity,
were present to witness the novel operation of curing
beef by infiltration. _ _ .

A fine fat bullock had been selected, and when
we arrived the workmen had already performed the
knock-down operation. The beef was upon his
back, and a saw was cutting its way through the
brisket, to enable the operator to get at the heart.
This done, an incision was then made in the right
ventricle of the heart, the carcass turned upon its
side, and the blood allowed to escape. Then it
was again rolled upon its back, a small in-
cision made in the left ventricle of the heart,
and a small hose pipe inserted. It may be
necessary to state that tc the pipe was attached
a rubber hose, and by tracing the hose about
ten feet in the direction of the building, it termi-
nated in the bottom of a barrel of brine, hoisted
there by means of a windlass. The pipe was in-
serted full length, entering the jugular vein, and
then secured by a stout cord. The brine was then
turned on, and the process of infiltration com-
menced. The first incision in the right ventricle
of the heart was closed by a clamp.
We watched patiently to see the effect. Soon the
carcass became stiff and rigid, and cooled rapidly.
Mr. Turner, by a dexterous and skilful operation,
amputated about an inch of the tail. Instead of
blood, brine spirted out with force. All took a
taste and " acknowledged the corn." In ten minutes
the brine that had been through the veins was as
cool as when it came from Alia tank. Incisions
were made in different parts of the carcass, and from
each jets of brine would, squirt to the distance of
three and four feet.

The carcass was again rolled upon its side, the
clamp taken off the incision on the right ventricle,
and out came the brinethat had gone in at the left
ventricle and had travelled through every artery
and vein where blood circulates. By continuing to
force in the brine the blood was forced out, so that
in fifteen or twenty minutes the escaping brine was
but slightly coloured with blood. By this time the
carcass was cold and stiff, ready to skin, cut up,
pack, and ship to any part of the world.