TECHNOLOGY. 695 



Further, the presence of bacteria in the intestine and in the urine is almost certain 

 evidence of pathological changes in the urinary tract or intestine. 



Empiricism or science: Anaesthetics, 1847 to 1897, D. W. Buxton {Lancet 

 [London], 2 (1S97), No. 3874, pp. 1369-1376).— A lecture delivered before the Society of 

 Ana-sthetists, November 18, 1897. It deals almost wholly with chloroform, the his- 

 tory of its use, its action, and the explanations that have been offered for the latter. 

 It is stated that it can not be said that mortality as a whole has decreased since the 

 beginning of the use of chloroform. Fewer mistakes would be made if only experi- 

 enced persons were called upon to use the anaesthetic. Experienced men will use 

 with safety the rudest means with impunity; but to allow the inexperienced to use 

 such means is to court disaster. 



TECHNOLOGY. 



The sweet potato as a starch producer, F. S. Shiver (South Car- 

 olina Sta. Bui. 28, pp. 15).— Analyses of 4 samples of sweet potatoes 

 made iu the spring' of 1894 showed the water content to range from 

 55.93 to 07.(11' per cent, and the starch from 1(5.93 to 29.58 per cent. 

 ^ Analyses are given of 3 samples of sweet potatoes sent to the station 

 and of 7 varieties grown at the station. The 7 varieties averaged 64.42 

 per cent of water and 20.31 per cent of starch. 



" In connection with these analyses it is to be remarked that the 

 season during which these tubers were grown was remarkably dry, and 

 this in a measure accounts for the low percentage of water and the 

 comparatively high percentage of starch." 



Calculated to a water content of 70 per cent, the average starch con- 

 tent was about 22 per cent. 



Complete fodder analyses are also given of the 7 varieties grown at 

 the station, including determinations of the cane sugar and glucose. 



The value of the sweet potato as a starch producer is discussed and 

 calculations are given showing that with a yield of 12,000 lbs. of sweet 

 potatoes per acre the yield of starch would be about 2,640 lbs., about 

 twice as much as the calculated yield from an acre of corn. 



Analyses with reference to fertilizing ingredients are given of a num- 

 ber of samples of sweet potatoes, and on the basis of these analyses 

 manuring of sweet potatoes is discussed. It is calculated that a crop 

 of 200 bu. of sweet potatoes per acre would remove 27.36 lbs. of nitro- 

 gen, 10.2 lbs. of phosphoric acid, and 65.52 lbs. of potash, provided the 

 vines were left on the land. 



It is mentioned that the storage of sweet potatoes has received atten- 

 tion at the station and "it was found that among a great many mate- 

 rials tried cotton-seed hulls and dry sand gave the best results." 



In an introductory note M. B. Hardin states that the mechanical sep- 

 aration of the starch in 1 sample showed 20.61 per cent as compared 

 with the analytical result of 22.82, and 19.96 per cent in another sam- 

 ple as compared with the analytical result of 21.74 per cent of starch. 

 The starch separated mechanically was found to contain 96 per cent of 

 starch. 



