Scientific Intelligence. — Zoology. 371 



gallnut by sulphuric acid, or by potash, it is probable that a 

 substitute may be found in some of the astringent barks, or even 

 in the seeds of the grape. 



ZOOLOGY. 



4. Obesity. — The celebrated^^ liver pies of Strasburgh are 

 made of the livers of geese, fattened with great attention. The 

 animal is shut up in a cage, but little larger than its body, and 

 is taken out but twice a-day, and then to be fed with about a 

 quart of crude peas. They are introduced with a finger into 

 the pharynx of the animal, which is thus made to swallow this 

 enormous quantity of nourishment, and is then immediately 

 shut up in its cage. The immediate result of this kind of life 

 is a remarkable obesity, and an enormous development of the 

 liver, which, without any notable change of structure, acquired 

 a triple or quadruple enlargement of volume. Bibulous paper 

 brought into close contact with this fat liver, immediately ab- 

 sorbs an oily matter, much like melted fat. These livers some- 

 times weigh eight or ten ounces, and sell at from three to five 

 francs. The fattening of geese in this manner is a good specula- 

 tion, for every part of the animal possesses an intrinsic value ; 

 the fat on many occasions is a substitute for butter, and the 

 flesh is served at table, and although somewhat tough, is not 

 the less nutritious ; the feathers are much sought after, the quills 

 serve for writing, and even the excrements sell at a high price as 

 one of the richest of manures. 



5. Portable Milk. — M. Dirchofi^, the Russian chemist, who 

 €ome time since discovered the process of making starch into 

 sugar, has lately made several experiments upon milk: the result 

 of which he has arrived at is curious. He is said to have found 

 a mode of keeping milk for use for any definite space of time. 

 The process of preserving is this : he causes new milk to be 

 evaporated over a slow fire, until it is reduced to a powder. 

 This powder is then put into a bottle, which is hermetically 

 sealed. When the milk is wanted for use, it is only to dissolve 

 some of the powder in a seasonable quantity of water, and the 

 mixture so dissolved will have all the qualities, as well as the 

 taste, of milk. — Edinburgh Agricultural Journal. 



6. Quantity of Eggs consumed in London, — The eggs of 

 hens are those most commonly used as food, and form an article 



A a 2 



