456 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



the slaughter-house, and is intended to contain the bichloride 

 of methylene. To this reservoir two India-rubber tubes are 

 attached, one terminating in a common gas jet, the other in 

 a tin funnel, large enough to receive the nose of a sheep or 

 other animal, and furnished with a strap and buckle for fix- 

 ing it to the head. The muzzle being fixed, the tap is turned, 

 and the gas suffered to bubble through the bichloride and 

 pass on to be breathed by the animal. In a minute complete 

 insensibility to pain is produced, the animal breathing the gas 

 without struggling or apparent pain. For large animals it 

 is proposed to construct chambers filled with the mixed va- 

 por, the mere passage of the animal through which would 

 render it insensible. 2 A, November 11, 1871, 331. 



PREPARED MEAT-JUICE. 



A new form of prepared meat-juice is now in the market, 

 extracted by pressure, and solidified by gentle evaporation. 

 This prepared meat contains the juice of the muscular tissue, 

 together with an amount of albuminous matter. When the 

 extract is submitted to the action of boiling water the albu- 

 minous matter coagulates, leaving the meat-juice in the form 

 of a clear, light amber soup, from which the coagulated albu- 

 men can be strained off if desired. 20 A, March 30,1872,387. 



USE OF ASEPTIN IN DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 



We have already referred to the introduction into the arts 

 of a substance called aseptin, and used for the preservation 

 of milk and meat in hot weather. The use of this has been 

 greatly extended during the past year in Northern and Cen- 

 tral Europe, and is considered an important feature in domes- 

 tic economy. What is called simple aseptin consists merely 

 of borax or boracic acid, while the double aseptin contains two 

 parts of borax and one part of ordinary alum, the former be- 

 ing used for the preservation of milk, and the latter for meats. 

 The rationale of its action is believed to consist in its influ- 

 ence upon the microscopic organisms which produce rancidi- 

 ty, acidity, and putrefaction, killing them entirely, or at least 

 preventing their development. The mould plant, however, 

 seems to be an exception to this action, as, in fact, it appears 

 to thrive under the influence rather than otherwise. Relia- 

 ble experiments with this aseptin seem to show a positive 



