175 



found them in the normal state ; that is, containing only a small 

 amount of oil. The water of Round Pond, in Haverhill, repre- 

 sented to be affected like the Cochituate, afforded to Prof. Hors- 

 ford, who exhibited them to us, similar crustaceans to those found 

 in the Cochftuate, and, like them, gorged with odorous oiL 



We have been informed by intelligent persons, who are feed- 

 ing the crustaceans on fat, that they retain their oil, and thrive 

 remarkably ; while experiments now in progress indicate that 

 when fed on flour, they gradually lose their oil. 



We consider this subject as of scientific interest; and the 

 research thus far continued, has shown us that there are more 

 important points beyond, which are worthy of investigation by 

 this Society. 



Dr. Jackson objected to the tone and character of Dr. Hayes's 

 rejoinder. He dissented from the statement that the Cyclopean 

 crustaceans give the peculiar taste to the water, for he had faith- 

 fully tried the experiment, and found no such taste as the Cochit- 

 uate water possessed when it had the peculiar cucumber flavor. 

 He said, that Dr. Bacon had stated to the Society, that the oil 

 globules seen in the Crustacea are not in the stomach or alimen- 

 tary canal of those animals, and Dr. Bacon, who was present, 

 assented to this remark of Dr. Jackson. The minute oil globules 

 are part of the natural fatty structure of the Crustacea. Further- 

 more, no proof has ever been presented that this oil has the 

 taste observed in Cochituate water. A fixed oil would remain 

 for any length of time in the water. How, then, does the water 

 become tasteless, on being kept in a demijohn for a few days? 



The mucilaginous and albuminous matters from plants undergo 

 decay, and change rapidly into crenic acid. How, then, could 

 it be expected, that those matters, in their altered state, could be 

 separated in any other form ? Putrefactive fermentation destroys 

 their peculiar and recognizable qualities : and volatile products, 

 giving an odor extremely fugitive and evanescent, and crenic 

 acid, are the results. 



Dr. Jackson objected to any partial' statement of his researches, 

 and referred to his entire report. In it will be found, on page 

 51st, the statement of the presence of " mucilaginous matters," 



