New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-30


but by satlrating sawdust with it, superphosphate
with is per cent soluble phosphate is obtained which
is too moist for transportation. Peat is suggested
by Bretenlohner AZ valuable substitute for saw
dust.
DETERMINING THE PURITY OF BUTTER.-An i'm
portant paper recently published in the Liver
pool and Manchester Medical and Surgical Reports,
by DR.. j. Campbell Brown, in reference to the most
practicable methods Of determining the extent and
character of the authorizations of butter. The va
rOus processes are principally chemical and spectre
scopical, but are to a considerable extent sufli-
GENTLY practical to form the basis of very definite
experiment. As preliminary an ounce Of the sam
pie of butter to be examined is placed in test tube
seven-eighths of an inch in diameter and melted by
the immersion Of the tube in hot water. Their
mometer with pear-shaped bulb is then to be in
troduced so that the bulb shall be in the middle Of
the fat about an inch below the surface after which
the whole is allowed to cool spontaneously. If the
quantity OF water in the butter be large, it will col
lect in the tube below the fat Casen will also col
lcct in the lower part of the tube The temperature
is to be carefully noted, when solidifcation COM
mences, and when tits complete.
If the butter is pure the thermometer is obscured
between 40 and GSo. and is solid at Go. An addi-
ton Of beef dripping the Thermometer TO OBJ
scure at 100 and to become solid at 72o. Mutton OBJ
scures the thermometer at about So and IL is solid
AZ So. Lard obscures the thermometer at Sl'.
and is solid at from 10 70o, but often remains as
soft as butter at much lower temperature. MIX
lures sOlidify at intermediate temperatures
If pure butter be examined by the microscope
with a One-fourth OF one-htth inch OBJECT giass,
nothing will be seen excepting the c1aiacteIsllG
gObules the granular masses OF culd, ana the cuDcai
crystals of salt the butter The hard FATS are
present i'm the glObules in state of solution, ana
not recognizable in separate form. The presence
however, of single fusform crystals, or star-ke az
gregations of needle-shaped crystals, lhqlGaL's tna
led co4u cont II
&c, will be appreciate by the microscope as dis-
tlnct from butter or fats. -,
For the determination Of other points of the IN
quiTy, special formula are gwen IN the paper, 10
which we refer our readers. We nave, however
given the tests which will most readily determine
the presence Of the more obnoxious authorizations.
1t proper TO state that the series of theoretca
considerations in Dr. Browns paper have been
stoutly contested by DIR: j. Alfred Wanklyn' ana
others, and that an acrimonious Controversy mas
arisen III consequence.
PUTRID INFECUoN.-Orignal investigations upon
this subject, by Ravitsch, show essentially the fol-
lowing results in transferring a purifying liquid
obtained by long moceraton of meat and hay, to
rabbits sheep. dogs, &c; allowance being made for
the differences of the animals. /. The local effect
consists in the production of diphtheritis at the
popt of contact often with little influence upon the
general conditiOn-according to experiments with
rabbits g The constant anatomical changes are IN
creased and granular degeneracy of the colorless
blood corpuscues solution Of the red corpuscuies,
with rapid separation of crystals of hGmoglobin'
granular degcneracy Of the muscles Of the heart
hyer-cells and epithelium of the kidneys 3. The
usual symptoms Of disease, viz, elevation Of tenn
perature and diminution Of consciousness and SEN
sibIily; vomiting and purging on account of lrTl-
tatiOn of the mucous membrane are frequently but
not invariably, present; cramps seldom occur. l.
No bacteria other foreign bodies can be found IN
the blood Of infected living animals, and the putrd
infection. therefore cannot consist in the develop
ment and multiplication of bacteria. D. After death
an exceedingly rapid decomposition Of the blood
takes place, and an unusual development OF bac-
terra and small bodies lmicrOzymesl which develop
into bacteria. 1t also appears from incubation and
injection with putrifying blood, that it is more
active than the liquid from maceratod nesh; and
that its energy depends the amount of IT IN the
body and whether il is introduced immediately into
the circulation or beneath the skin. Neither does
the infection in this case consist IN the production
or development of bacterdes, when always Ilst
appear after death, and invariably precede me Ior-
nation of movable bacteria. Dried matter ~ less
active than fluid, and putud matter Is not entirely
deprived OF it's activity by boiling pul rooices
feversh condition with local uniatlOn. ne disease
produced by putrid infection cannot be transferred
by incubation; but the blood OF ANIMALS that nave
reached the condition OF blood poisoning acls upon
sI,ud animals inst rs incubation with putTd blood
and other putTd matter. since the effect, however,
is always dependent on the amount OF matter lntIo
ductd, which Is never the Cast IN con P,.'iiu
Infection cannot be cassed with contagious Diseases
From these aud numerous other careful experiments
involving the use OF sulphuretted hydrogen, sui
pbide IF ammonium. &c, the author concludes that
his infection is not due to living bacteria vlbnoncs,
or other microscopic objects in the putnd matter,
even though they may take part III the formation OF
The virus.
PRIZE FOR Az ESSAY on THE PoTATo DIsrAsE.-
The ROYAL Agricultural Society Of London has lately
offered prize of 800 sterling for the best essay on
The potato disease and the modes Of its prevention
The competing essays to be sent III before the end
of 1873 with the proyiso that all the information
thew contain shall be founded on experience and
original observation, and not upon compilations
from books or other writings.
4 summary Of what is believed to be known on
tbe subject, prepared by Mr.. Caruthers has been
nulli.hed by the Society to aid essayists in their
i,hors In this we are informed that the potato dis
q, o,ftr-