N. MATERIA MEDIC A, THERAPEUTICS, AND HYGIENE. 557 



and utilization of the solid portion, being the first to suggest 

 itself. But this does not seem to meet the case; and, con- 

 sequently, purification of the polluted water must be resorted 

 to, either by means of chemical reagents or of filtration, or 

 of some method of irrigation with the water. To effect this, 

 many chemical reagents have been experimented with, and 

 numerous combinations have been patented: lime, salts of 

 alumina and iron, carbon, and clay entering most frequently 

 into the processes. Filtration, downward and upward, through 

 sand, etc., has also been extensively tried; but none of these 

 afford satisfactory results, as far, at least, as dissolved organic 

 matter is concerned not even half of it being eliminated by 

 any of the chemical methods. The purified water has fre- 

 quently been found to develop animal life copiously. 



By intermittent downward filtration, through sand, how- 

 ever, the filters beino- allowed to remain idle from six to 

 twelve hours, and this bein^ resaturated with absorbed oxv- 

 gen, the organic matter seems to be completely removed, 

 and the purification is altogether satisfactory. But the 

 cheapest and most convenient method for the removal of all 

 sorts of putrescent city refuse is through sewage, and its sub- 

 sequent purification by some one of the methods of irrigation 

 with it; and it is, at the same time, the means decidedly 

 best adapted to the agricultural utilization of the ingredients. 

 Objections to this plan, based upon the possibility of the 

 production of miasmatic or other unhealthful influences by 

 it, do not seem to be warranted by experience, even during 

 the prevalence of cholera. 14 C, 1874, CCXL, 200. 



THEKAPEUTIC VIRTUES OF PHENATE OF AMMONIA. 



Dr. Deelat urges the value of ammonia, and of the phenate 

 of that alkali, in treating cholera and ferment diseases, includ- 

 ing those resulting from the bites of certain serpents. These 

 remedies tend to prevent the solidification of the blood in 

 fermentative diseases, especially the phenate ; they can also 

 be used with good results in cases of confirmed cholera, ei- 

 ther administered by the mouth in the proportion of one half 

 of one per cent., or as a hypodermic injection of 100 drops 

 of 2 to 1\ per cent., or by injection in the veins. In this lat- 

 ter case, however, the phenate must not be stronger than one 

 half of one per cent. 



