421 
Report of the Committee appointed to try Experiments on the 
Preservation of Animal and Vegetable Substances. Drawn 
up by The Rev. J.S. HEnstow, F.L.S., Professor of Botany 
in the University of Cambridge. 
Tue Committee have hitherto directed their attention entirely 
to the investigation of the preserving properties of certain ma- 
terials when applied separately, either in saturated solutions, or 
in different degrees of concentration. 
A set of glass jars, of uniform dimensions (6 inches by 14), 
was procured, and saturated solutions of the substances to be 
tried were prepared. Similar solutions were also diluted with an 
equal quantity of water, and with double the quantity of water, 
and separate preparations were made of animal and vegetable 
substances to the amount of 178. These were left in the Mu- 
seum of the Botanic Garden at Cambridge, and have been in- 
spected at intervals of one and two years. It is intended that 
all should remain where they now stand, whether the results 
may prove satisfactory or not; as, possibly, some facts may be 
elicited worth noticing, respecting the different manner in which 
organized substances are decomposed when placed in a variety 
of mixtures which do not preserve them. 
The next step which the Committee propose taking, will be 
to mix those solutions which seem to them most likely to suc- 
ceed, in various proportions ; and to prepare a fresh set of ob- 
jects in these mixtures, which will be placed with the former. 
This, indeed, ought to have been done some months ago, but 
circumstances have prevented the Committee from carrying this 
part of their plan into effect. No very satisfactory conclusions 
can be expected to result from these experiments until they 
shall have stood the test of a greater length of time than has 
yet elapsed since they were commenced. An account of the re- 
sults hitherto obtained will be of service in directing the re- 
searches of any who may be disposed to follow up the inquiry, 
and the Committee will be glad to receive the suggestions or 
aid of any members of the Section who may be disposed to co- 
operate with them. 
Ist. Results obtained with Animal Substances.—Three salts 
of potash, the sub-carbonate, the bi-carbonate, and the arse- 
niate, have hitherto yielded the most satisfactory results, and 
of these more especially the sub-carbonate. Although the bi- 
carbonate has preserved the objects immersed in it, the liquid 
has become clouded with flocculent matter. A similar formation 
of flocculent matter occurs in some of the other solutions, but 
has not yet been minutely examined. These three salts are 
effective in each of the three states of concentration em- 
ployed, but perhaps the effect is best where the solution is half 
of the saturated solution and half of water. 
