Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-02-09
Hail Columbia, once more !

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY. -Rev. Mr. Soeley,
formerly of Springfield, Massachusetts, now in
Paris communicates to the Springfield Rcpub.
llcan the following interesting particulars of
promising discovery in France, for purposes of
health, agriculture, and surgery -
This discovery, made by Messrs. Corne and
Demeaux, and thus far known as "Corne and
Demeaux's Disintecting Powder" or as the
''French Disintecting Powder" is as simple in
Its character as its results promise to be i'm
portant. These gentlemen, in the course of
some experiments ascertaned that a simple
mixture of the ordinary plaster of Paris and
coal tar (which is produced by the distillation
ofcoa for gas )has very powerful anti-septc pro-
perties. The proportions of the ingredients are,
one hundred parts of plaster Of Paris, to from
one to three parts OF the coal tar; aud the mix
ture to be thoroughly made with mortar and
pestle, or in a hand mill, or by such other
method as the quantity desired and the means
OF the operator may dictate. The process can
not be very difficult, since the article fully pre-
pared is sold in Paris for about ten cents per
pound. 1t is used for disinfecting or anti-sep-
tic purposes, some of which / will indicate.
For preventing the disagreeabe odor of sinks,
&C., the effect is instantaneous, and it is so
much cheaper that chloride of lime must en-
tirely fall into disuse. Two pounds of the
powder are sufficient to dissolve into twenty.
two gallons of water or tablespoonful dis
solved in one and three-quarter pints of water
is sufficient per day to render inodorous the
refuse of household of four or five persons.
A morsel, the size of pins head, will render
limpid and fit for use pint and a half OF wa
ter which is beginning to become putrescent.
The value of such discovery for those who
travel in the east, and especially for ships at
sea- cannot well be overstated.
But it also has an important relation to ag-
riculture. "Onehalf pound of the powder, dis
solved in five or six gallons of water and
sprinkled on the litter OF stable, will deprive
one cubic yard Of manure of all Odor, and pre-
vent the loss Of its fertlizng qualities. 1t was
on this feature of the case that thought you
might easily institute experiments, and, il sue
cessiul, you will not fail to see what boon
such discovery must prove to all those farm
ers VINO comprehend the necessity Of preserv-
Iils ~ tle best possible condition, and making
the pest possible use of all the fertilizng ma.
teri"is produced on the farm. 1t is probably
no eAhsgeratlon to affirm that tens of thou
sahus OF dollars are evaporated every year
from tne exposed and smoking manure beaps
around the barns and outhouses of the Massa.
chusetts farmers; and If there be anv yirtue in
this alleged discovery, coal tar enough IN nre.
vent all this waste is furnished by anv pas 90.
adjustment in the state Every farmer Ia
wont to use plaster, more or less, on his land
Let him apply small portion of it in the form
and manner here suggested, and its usefulness
will be much more certain, in all cases, than
at present.
But the reasons of the discovery, which are
regarded with most interest in France, just at