Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-07-11
LIYE2p0oL SIT

LIP ENPOCLtS SILT.
In late number of the Medical Refo-
STORY, we find commune alton of consi.
derable length, written in illustration OF
the spelling of Beef, Pork and Butter,
cured with Liverpool salt +; and OF the re-
vers excited thereby, as those corrupiins
articles ACT directly upon the stomach and
Intestines, AID through the atmosphere
upon other parts of the body, in private
houses, in ships and in cities."--by DR.. Sa.
muel Mitchell.
The writer states that this salt is pres
pared on the western coast of England,
by boiling ocean water, or briny spring wa
ter, saturated with the rock salt of Nor
wich, in large and shallow pans Of Iron.
Its qualities are very different from the
pure muriate of soda, or the salt brought
from the Canaries, Cape de Verd and Ba-
hama Islands: the latter being ranked a.
mong the most agreeable and strongest of
the antisep,ics, while the former, he saws,
is remarkable for possessing the reverse
OF those valuable properties. Salt obtain
ed by iorce OF FIRE, or boiling, retains an
admiIture Of foreign ingredients, known
by the technical names of slack and b:t
torn. These usually adhere to the salt
in considerable quantities. Theyhave no
antiseptic Virtues, but possess a directly
cont. airy effect. Salt formed By natural
evaporation and chry stalizAtion, has very
little mixture with the foreign and foul in
gradients, and is therefore more pure,
more antisepdc, and more iii for all man
ner OF economical purposes.
The Doctor is of opinion that nearly two
htihs of all the foreign salt consumed in
the u. States is ofthis inferior kind that
the use of it occasions an immense loss of
properly and Of lives and that to its re-
neral introduction in he middle and south-
ern states as an article for preserving of
beet, pork and butter, is mostly to be at
tributed the pest!lcntial fevers which SO
often afiljct our commercial cities. Doc.
tor M. states thatit il incapable ofpreserv-
ing beel from corruption; that this innpor-
tant article has been found tainted the We
ry autumn in which it has been picked
IN barrels; and that more frequently has
1t stunk abominably III the warehouses and
magazines of New York and other cities,
on the return Of warm weather the ensu
ing spring. And more common and la.
mentablc case is, that in the progress of
summers heat, aidedby southern latitude,
the beef VIXEN exported ID the West Indies
or elsewhere, degenerAtes with still more
T"pid progress of putjefa6iion thus the
vessels in the West India trade grow foul
and sickly' their crews contract yellow fe-
vers from the causes existing within them
selves, and then the blame is cast upon co.
reign domlTnons. The same evil conse-
quenCes, tho in more limited degree, re
suit from the use of this salt to pickle our
pork. Butter in which il is substituted in
the room ofthe cid fashioned or sun made
salt, loses It's agreeable Favor and acquires
rather a disagreeable scent, is easily de
tected by the grocers IN New York, and
consequently brings less price at mar
ket.
Another evil which the DOCTOR points
out is the disorders Of the stomach and i'm
tes,ines induced by eating semi septic beef
and pork. Dvsenteries, fluxcs, scuryies,
and similar ailments he conceives 10 be
the natural incidents to this kind OF diet; &
adds, that sometimes among the custom
Of the sales OF this British salt can be ira
ced in the region around, by he offensive
and disgusting condition oil their meat
tubs, and the prevalence OF bloody lluxes,
and other intestinal disorders, in those
who draw their sustenauce thence.
The doctor observes, that the British
philosophers have long known the dispo.
sition of their salt to promote p,itrefac.i-
on. In mir o7on country their expert
ments and mon;tions have had the desir-
ed effect. They have warned their own
people not to trust it for any Other than
culinary and extemporary purposes. Yet
in the United States the citizens are pur-
chasing and consuming this baleful arli-
Gle ofcommerce; while if they Judge right
ly they would rejea it in ali their deal
ings.