The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-21 00:00:00

Extraordinary Experiments.

Dr. Dewar, of Kirkaldy, has recently been led to
form some very, important conclusions as to the
effect of sulphur fumigations as a preventive of the
cattle plague. He caused the cattle byres to be
fumigated with sulphur four times a day, and in no
case where this plan was regularly carried out did
a single case of cattle plague or any other epidemic
occur. The therapeutic effect of this treatment,
however, by no means ended here. Ringworm,
angle-berries, mange, and lice disappeared, and a
horse which had been accidentally fumigated a few
times was cured of obstinate grease in the heels.
In a diary of 30 cows, where cases of pleuro-
pneumonia had been frequent for 30 years, and
where for eight years past the disease had never
been absent a month together, and the tenant had
buried 16 cows in the year preceding the commence-
ment of the fumigation, the disease has entirely
ceased since its employment. If ventilation be at-
tended tothe attendant may shut himself in with the
cattle during the fumigation not only without in-
jury, but with, it would appear in many cases,
great benefit to his health. In the case of a groom
of Dr. Dewar's who was afflicted with phthisis,
within a week the night-sweats ceased, his cough
gradually got better, expectoration lessened, and he
gained nearly two stone in weight ',in four months,
and now looks as strong, and is as able to do his work
as before his illness, though dependent for existence
upon little more than one lung. These statements
are so extraordinary that we should have deemed
them deserving of but little credit were they not
supported by the testimony of a medical man of high
character, and confirmed by the opinion of several
others by whom the case was observed. In diptheria
and various other complaints, sulphur fumigation
has almost immediately been productive of great
benefit, whilst in one instance an attack of hospital
grangrene, in the wards of the Edinburgh Infirmary,
was almost instantly cut short by it. Dr. Dewar's
theory of the curative influence of sulphur fumiga-
tions is that the great proportion of diseases are
caused by cryptogamic speres, the vitality of which
is destroyed by the vapour of the sulphurous acid
gas. It is a curious circumstance, not unworthy
of note, that llahnemann's theory of disease
led him to regard sulphur as the proper remedy for
tuberculosis. For the disinfection of inanimate
tDheewsaurlprheucorm,
amnedndths
etnhetoadcdomitiboinneotfhae
lmitatlteerniai e ptro.
fumes with the vapour of boiling water. The result
is a disinfectant the most active, searching, and
efficacious that can be devised, utterly destructive
of every form of contagion and of insect life.
Sulphur fumigations have also a remarkable effect
in retarding putrefaction. During the hot weather
of June a sheep's
head was kept. by Dr. Dewar
fresh and sweet for 18 days ; a crab eight days. Dr.
Dewar recently
viands preserved •in thivnanner, and one and all
expressed their satisfaction with the fare, and their
conviction of the perfect success of the process.—
London Review.

Liverpool Cotton Market.—This Day.
_
The market opened quiet, but very steady.
Sales probably 8,000 bales.

The Prussia
.-211.0,thiishes an ordinance
on the subject of the property carried off from the Treasury
of Hanover on the day before the entry "of the Prussian
troops, and consisting of 18,600,000 thalers (3f. 75c. each),
of which 1,438,000 wore in gold. As those funds, which
belong to the Crown, have not yet been restored, an order
has been issued that, in order to guarantee the rights of the
country, neither the interest nor the reimbursement of the
titles shall be paid.

THE WEATHER IN SCOTLAND.—A correspondent
of a contemporary says, it may be interesting to meteoro-
logical observers in the latitude of London to know that a
violent storm of thunder, lightning, hail, and snow broke
over this place (about 18 miles from Aberdeen) at 3 o'clock
on last Thursday afternoon. The train by which I travelled
when near the station of Crathes suddenly rushed into
fields all white, like some Polar region, with snow that lay
in some places at least six inches deep. To-day the sky is
bright, but the crops are backward, and as yet I have seen
but one field covered with the stocks of harvest.
WATER OF THE TEMPLE PUMPS.—The result of
a careful analysis of the water from the four pumps in the
Inner and Middle Temple, by Dr. Noad, Professor of Che-
mistry at St. George's Hospital, is the condemnation of the
water of one of them, long favoured in the Temple—viz.,
that in Hare-court. After having been twice analysed,
with the same results, this matter is pronounced to contain
organic matter, as proved by the residue left on evapora-
tion becoming discoloured by heat. The presence of oxy-
dized compounds of nitrogen points to the possible con-
tamination of the spring by organic matters of an animal
riby the medical officer of the
oWegsitn.
London Dr. Noadni confirmed
retdhe orders of the Privy Coun-
cil, strongly recommends the continued closing of the pump
during the prevalence of the present epidemic. The pump
therefore remains closed till further order. It is satisfac-
tory to find that the water of the other three pumps, which
arenow open, is pronounced free from animal matter and
good for drinking. The condemned water is described by
:droo TO
l ght, free from smell and
taste, and faintly alkaline."
RESCUE .—A very
pDa:DnfNußlooaelvdvsenaEs nevertheless
tr.
o IN
North Devon, on Friday.
Mr. S. Wilson, of Clifton, and his son, who were visitors at
Croyde, went out to bathe. The son had not been in the
water long when begot out of his depth, and was in immi-
nent danger of being drowned. The father rushed to his
rescue, but he was soon in equal danger. Two men were
spectators of the scene, but both were, unfortunately, un-
able to swim. One of them, Thomas Glover, nevertheless,
volunteered to go to the assistance of the drowning couple,
and a rope was fastened round his body, the end being held
by the man on shore. Young Wilson was about being res-
cued by the gallant fellow, when the latter lost his footing
and the, rope slipped, in consequence of which both were
drowned. Mr. Wilson succeeded with great difficulty in
reaching the shore.
HOUNDS AND SHEEP DISEASE.--A little difference
has arisen between farmers and the promoters of fox and
hare hunting
in Surrey and the borders of Kent in reference
to the daily exercising of hounds. The dogs are taken. out
by the whippers-in over downs, commons, and sheep-
walks, and flockmaSters protest against this course as cal-
culated to disseminate sheep disease should it make its ap-
pearance in this part of the country ; and, as the practice
is not suspended, farmers have made " a dead set" against
the hunt, and threaten the destruction and annihilation of
foxes from the gorse and coverts unless the hounds are
confined to the roads for future exercise.

The number of wrecks reported during the past
week has been 40, making for the present year a total o
1,315.