490 



effect of (lisintegratiiig and partly decomposing the nitrogenous and 

 incrusting matter of the wood, which is also afterward more readily 

 bleached, not becoming yellow by the use of chlorine, as is the case 

 when these matters have been left in the wood. The rotted wood is 

 thoroughly washed with boiling water and steamed, previous to any 

 other treatment, and next treated with an alkali. 



Bat Guano. — The excrements of bats from Egj'pt have recently be- 

 come an article of trade as a sort of guano for manurial luirposes. An 

 analysis of the composition shows in 100 parts, urea, 77.80; uric aeid, 

 1.25; kreatine, 2.55; phosphate of soda, 13.45; Avater driven off at 100° 

 centigrade, 3.66 ; substances insoluble in water, 0.575 — total 99.285. 



Cattle Disease in New York. — The farmers of Dutchess County, 

 Xew York, are excited over the appearance among their cattle of a 

 peculiar disease. It appears that tliirteen steers and a pair of oxen 

 were brought after suuset into Pawling, and kept in one of the cattle 

 yards over night. The next day the oxen were sold to a neighboring 

 farmer. About four days after being taken to their new home the oxen 

 were taken suddenly sick, their tongues commenced to swell, water ran 

 from their mouths, their hoofs began to rot, and their appetite vanished. 

 Though not considered in a critical condition, they were apparently 

 failing daily. Soon after it was noticed that their ailments had been 

 imparted to other cattle on the farm, and now thirty-one head are 

 afflicted in the same manner, most of them milch cows. Cattle on the 

 neighboring farms are also down with the disease, and to all appear- 

 ances the malady is spreading fast, and threatens to jiroduce disastrous 

 results. 



The Cattle Plague in Germany. — Information has been received 

 at the veterinary department of the privy council^ England, that the 

 cattle plague is raging in many parts of Germany and France, and that, 

 in consequence of the war on the continent, all efforts to check it in 

 the various provinces of Germany a})pear to have failed, while iu 

 France it is reported to have accompanied the German army from the 

 vicinity of Metz to Paris. Orders have been issued by the lords of the 

 council adding France to the list of suspected countries, and subjecting 

 sheep and goats from Germany and France to the same restrictions as 

 are imposed upon cattle coming from those countries ; and farther 

 requiring that all such cattle, sheep, and goats coming to London shall 

 be slaughtered at the place of landing, instead of being brought to the 

 metropolitan market. The governments of Belgium and the Nether- 

 lands are strictly guarding their frontiers and seaboard against the 

 introduction of animals from German v and France. 



