CHEMISTRY. 183 



The surface of the meat was whitened, its offensive odor was not 

 removed, though it was masked by the carbolic acid. In two 

 days' time the bad odor had quite gone, and was replaced by a 

 pure but faint smell of carbolic acid. In a few weeks' time the 

 pieces of meat were examined again. The one which had been 

 deodorized with chloride of lime now smelt as offensively as it did 

 at first, while the piece treated with carbolic acid had simply 

 dried up, and had no offensive odor whatever. It was then hung 

 up for another month and examined ; no change had taken 

 place. 



"X. Apiece of fresh meat was soaked in a 1 per cent, aqueous 

 solution of carbolic acid for 1 hour; it was then wrapped in 

 paper and hung up in a sitting-room in which there was a fire 

 almost daily ; at the end of 10 weeks it was examined. It had 

 dried up to about one-fourth of its original size, but looked and 

 smelt perfectly good and fresh, a very faint odor of carbolic acid 

 being all that was perceptible. It was soaked for 24 hours in 

 water, and then stewed with appropriate condiments and eaten ; 

 it was perfectly sweet, and scarcely distinguishable from fresh 

 meat, except by possessing a very faint flavor of carbolic acid, 

 not strong enough to be unpleasant. 



" XL Animal membranes in forms of gut, skin, and bladder, 

 were perfectly preserved if immersed direct in aqueous solution 

 containing 1 per cent, of carbolic acid ; but i previously moistened 

 with water, and then immersed in dilute carbolic acid, the pre- 

 servation of the skins was not so complete. 



XII. Animal size and glue, mixed, in the form of solution, with 

 small quantities of carbolic acid, were perfectly preserved from 

 change even in hot weather. 



" These are important questions. They point out in a striking 

 manner the difference between mere deodorizers and antiseptics. 

 Hitherto attention has been almost entirely confined to the deo- 

 dorization of gases-arising from putrescence. The effect has been 

 combated, whilst the removal of the cause has received scarcely 

 any attention. Chloride of lime, one of the strongest of the class 

 of deodorizers, acts, as has been shown, only on the gases of ex- 

 isting putrefaction, but it has no influence over the future. Car- 

 bolic acid, on the other hand, has scarcely any action on fetid 

 gases ; but it attacks the cause which produces them, and, at the 

 same time, puts the organic matter in such a state that it never 

 reacquires its tendency to putrefy." 



ON FRUIT ESSENCES. 



The products known under the name of fruit essences are 

 alcoholic solutions of different ethers, to which is sometimes added 

 certain acids, or certain natural essences. Glycerine is found in 

 all ; it appears to blend the different odors, and to harmonize 

 them. It is necessary to state, that the alcohol used, as well as 

 all the other substances, must be chemically pure. 



