Year: 1862




Dir. Editor The undersigned believes that it is
the duty OF every good citizen to contribute far as
possible everything that is at a likely 10 add TO the
support of people at home as we'll as to the COM
fort of those in the hed and that it behooves every
patriot in the army to look to economy at home and in
the field in the use Of those articles of absolute and
prime necessity now almost beyond the reach of the
poorer classes of cur fellow. citizens At the head of
the list of such articles stands salt.


The quantity of this article now within the limits of
the Conftdaracy, is entirely inadequate to supply the
wants OF all people and. unltss more abundant
sources to supply developed before the season for
saving bacbu arrives much OF that indispensable article
of food will fail to be produced be badly preserved
Ia view Of this state OF things beg leave to call the
attention of my counrymen engaged in preparing bacon
for thNapprOaching season, to method OF preserving
1t, which, if entirely successful, has been claimed for
it, will economise both salt and labor.


The proposed method is entirely practicable and eau
be executed by any person OF ordinary capsity 1t is
to make saturated solution OF Salt in aoasr
and inject 1t into carotid d,te' y soon as the hog
ceases 10 bleed, after having been slain in the ordinary
way. Tie instruments for performing this operation
are few and simple an ordinary syringe, common
kniie, and piece ct twne being all that are actually
necessary. The throat of the hog should be freely cut
on sde in order TO insure the division of the artery
that side of the neck The artery is readily distn-
guisbahe from the vein, from the color of the blood
which it carries being horid scarlet and projected in
JETS while the hog beeds, remaining open and empty
d!tcE tnaI CnutQ ne VEIN cirrlPS OIue,
dark coored blocd, and the bleeding conducted in
continuous stream. The vein coapses or contains CO.
agUated blood, the cessation CT the flow of blood.


A syringe containing quart, or more, OF the salt
solution should be brought into Fqustlon as soon as
the bleeding ceases and the noze pipe, introduced
into the end OF the artery winch passes from the body
and secured by passing twlne arouud it to keep in
its proper place. and prevent the escape Of the solution
from it. A moderate degree of force applied to the
ston-boIdng tbs instrument ina line in the dir, ctic
heart and thence to every portion of the body below.
The iD junction should in like manner be thrown into
the divided artery which passes to the head.


10 render success the perfect the dvid d ends
Of the VEINS should be secured ny gatare before the
and cleansed in the usual way The length OF tirle
or the removal of the internal organs be deter
mioed by experience, IS have had information on
t0at point Reasoning from analogy and experience in
preserving animal bodies more particularly the human
body, have STATION in recommending the fore
going method Of curing meat as one of great value
in point of economy in both salt aud time and in pro-
ducing superior article Of food, as condiments could
be added very conveniently the salt solution and any
desirable flavor be impaired to it thereby


The foregoing idea of saving bacon was made the
subject OF newspaper article years ago. by my
intelligent and much valued friend and colleague, Prof.
u. IrOup Maxwell, NJ. d, CALAMITY serving With
cur army IN Tennessee, Il think, if recoiec correct
y, be gave his experience in proof of its vauel


Very respectfully yours,


II. L BYRD, NJ. d.


Surgeon O. S. Army.
Waynesviie, Ga, Aug. 29th 1862