74 



pieces of meat of all the animals used as when brought to market are not 

 t<oUl before its close, a precaution rendered necessary by the heat of the 

 country, and the impossibility of obtainins,- ice, by means of which to 

 carry the food oyer until tlie next day. The substance from which the 

 petis is expressed is also dried and introducetl into commerce, but is 

 generally used immediately, v.hile the petis is distributed widely through- 

 out the Indian Archipelago, and can be kei)t a long time. These i^repar- 

 ationshavean extremely saline taste, due almost entirely, however, to 

 the concentration of the organic salts originally contained in the ex- 

 pressed juice. The smell is said to be quite agreeable, and the taste very 

 appetizing. 



VARyiNG EFFECTS OF POISO^^S ON DIFFEEENT A]\^IMALS, 



It is a well-known fact that what is poisonous to one animal may be 

 taken by another with entire impunity. In illustration of this proposi- 

 tion, we are informed that strychnine, so fatal to most animals, may be 

 eaten by certain species of monkeys with perfect safety. In the case of 

 an East India monkey, known as the Luugoor, {Preshytis entelluH,) one 

 grain was first concealed in a piece of cucumber, which was eaten by 

 the animal with no ai^parent effect. Three grains were afterward given, 

 and with the same result. To test the strychnine used, three grains 

 were administered to a dog, which proved almost immediately fatal. 

 Another Indian monkey, known as the iDOuch cheek monkey, has been 

 found to be more susceptible than the Lungoor, but not so much so as 

 the dog. 



It is also stated that pigeons can take opium in large quantities with 

 no injurious consequence ; goats, tobacco; and rabbits, belladonna, stra- 

 monium, and hyoscyamus. 



YICTOEIA STOIS^E. 



In a communication upon artificial stone made to the -British Asso- 

 ciatiou by the Kev. Mr. Highton, the well-known fact was adverted to, 

 that certain forms of natural silica occurring in various parts of Europe, 

 especially in England and Germany, can be dissolved, under proper 

 l)recautious, even when cold. An important application has been 

 made of this soluble silica in the preparation of an artificial stone, 

 whicli is harder than any natural stone, except the hard granites and 

 X)rimitive rocks. The process indicated for utilizing this consists in first 

 making a concrete of any good hydraulic cement. When this is dry it 

 is steeped in an alkaline solution of silica, in Miiich is placed a quantity 

 of free silica. The following chemical process then takes place : The lime 

 in the concrete extracts the silica from the solution, leaving the alkali free, 

 which immediately attacks the free silica and conveys it in its turn to 

 the concrete. This process goes on continually till the lime in the con- 

 crete is saturated with silica. In this way, within a week, the strength 

 of the concrete is increased from 50 to 150 per cent., and to a still 

 greater degree by a longer immersion. As the alkali acts only as a car- 

 rier of the silica, it is used over and over again, aiid it is in this that 

 the economy of the manufacture consists. The substance thus formed 

 is known as silicated concrete, or the patent Victoria stone, and it has 

 been manufactured on a grand scale in Loudon, and several large edi- 

 fices have been l)ailt entirely from it. The economy of its construction 

 is such that it i)romises to supersede natural stone, except where the 

 latter is very clieap and abundant. In London it can be put into i^lace 

 in building at a much less cost than natural stone. 



