Royal Institution of Great Britain. 211 



The secret of preparing these vegetable cakes is said to be 

 possessed exclusively by the peculiar sect of people called the 

 Shaking; Quakers, and from whom the specimens in question had 

 been obtained. 



Friday^ February 2nd. 



" An Account of the Extensive Applications lately made in Paris 

 of the Chlorides or Chlorurets of Lime and Soda, as disinfecting 

 agents," was given by Mr. Alcock. It appears that the well- 

 known power possessed by chlorine, of destroying putrid or in- 

 fectious miasmata, is retained by it, even when it is in combination 

 with lime, in the substance usually known in this country by the 

 name of bleaching powder ; or when in a similar state of combi- 

 nation with a weak alkaline solution. If the bleaching powder 

 (chloride of lime) be sprinkled about a place in which putrescent 

 or infectious vapours are floating, they soon disappear; or if it 

 be dissolved in water, and then cloths be dipped in the solution, 

 and afterwards brought into the infected atmosphere, they produce 

 the same good result. These properties, combined with the inno- 

 cuous nature of the chloride itself, renders it available in many 

 cases where disinfection is required, where the use of free chlorine 

 would be attended with inconvenience. Thus, in disinterring a 

 corpse for the purpose of judicial inquiry, a cloth dipped into the 

 solution of the chloride, and placed over the body for an hour or 

 two, will prevent the developement of unpleasant effluvia ; or in 

 descending into pits, sewers, or cesspools, if the air breathed be 

 passed through a sponge imbibed with the same fluid, the person 

 can remain some time without injury in situations where others, 

 not so provided, would infallibly be destroyed. The application 

 of the compound or mixture of chlorine with solution of carbonate 

 of soda* to ulcers or putrescent sores, was also lightly touched 

 upon, and the good effects stated to have been obtained by others 

 confirmed by Mr. Alcock. 



The Library Tables were furnished with a very elaborate pen and 

 ink drawing of a Holy Family, by Mr. Train ; with numerous books 

 presented by members and friends of the Institution ; with speci- 

 mens of new and unpublished works ; with scarce manuscripts and 

 books ; and with a specimen of deadly vegetable poison from 

 Assam, used by the Assamese to tip their arrows and spears. This 

 specimen consisted of several small amylaceous roots in a dried 

 state, which, when cut open, were found to be intersected with 



♦ Which has received the name of chloruret of oxide of sodium. 



P2 



