J. HOUSEHOLD ECONOMY. 387 



feet, and states that, having suffered considerably from this 

 cause, he was induced to try the experiment of using the 

 well-known air-cushion as a footstool. This answered so 

 well that he has never traveled without using one in this 

 way, and has found the effect to be a remarkable improve- 

 ment. 20 A, September 16, 1871, 362. 



PRESERVATION OF MEAT BY BISULPHITE OF LIME. 



A patent has lately been taken out by Messrs. Madelock 

 and Bailey for a method of preserving meat by means of bi- 

 sulphite of lime. For this purpose, one gallon of the solu- 

 tion of this salt, of the specific gravity of 1.05, is combined 

 with one half pound of common salt and four gallons of wa- 

 ter. This, it is asserted, will preserve meat perfectly well 

 for months, or even years. If this statement be substantiated 

 by experiment, it will furnish a means for utilizing an im- 

 mense quantity of flesh that now goes to waste, as it seems 

 from the statement that this meat, when cooked, is not appre- 

 ciably different from that which is perfectly fresh, and is with- 

 out any taste of chemical substances. 1 A, March 31,1871. 

 153. 



IMPORTANCE OF KILLING FRESHLY-CAPTURED FISH. 



It has been remarked by travelers in Holland that the river 

 and sea fish in that country are of remarkable excellence of 

 taste, and apparently possess much firmer flesh than those 

 of other regions. This, however, results simply from the fact 

 that the fish are always killed at the moment they are taken 

 from the water, while in most other countries they are allowed 

 to die slowly ; and with the great tenacity of life possessed 

 by these animals, many hours, and even several days in some 

 cases, elapse before actual death ensues. This calls to mind 

 the anomaly which prevails between our treatment of fish 

 and other animals. The attempt to offer for sale birds or 

 beasts that have died by what might be called a natural 

 death, or that have been killed by drowning, would very 

 soon be met by the action of the police authorities ; but 

 what corresponds to precisely the same treatment in fishes 

 is allowed to pass as a matter of course. A slight considera- 

 tion of the circumstances will soon convince us of the impro- 

 priety of this practice, and that the quicker we are in causing 



