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Fekment fungt. — Dr. Eugel, of Strasbnrgb, has ascertained that 

 alcoholic fermentations is accompanied by the development of two dif- 

 ferent genera of fungous plants, while that of fruits embraces four 

 kinds. These latter ferments are found almost always on the surface 

 of the fruit, where they remain in a latent condition without develop- 

 ment. When, however, the epidermis becomes cracked, or when the 

 stem of the fruit is separated, the ferment (or its spores) comes into 

 contact with the sacharine juices, and the ferment is then re])roduced, 

 but always in the form of ferment and never in that of mold. Engel 

 maintains that the alcholic ferment exists in nature, although the fact 

 has been denied by others. Thus, as long as a cherry is intact it has a 

 particular savor ; when, however, the stem is detached or the epidermis 

 is cracked, the cherry not only changes its color, but assumes a vinous 

 taste, and exhibits a large number of fermented cellules. 



He also remarks that the ferment of bread is of a different species from 

 the yeast of beer, and that he has never been able to germinate the 

 spores of ferments in vegetables which contained but little sugar, or none 

 at all ; but that as soon as they come in contact with sacharine liquid 

 they germinate or reproduce the ferment. 



Destroying caterpillars, — According to Schmidt, an excellent 

 remedy against caterpilhirs consists in a dilute solution (1 part in 500) 

 of sulphide of potassium, the infested tree being sprinkled with this 

 substance by means of a snmll hand-syringe. This method has been 

 nsed on a large scale in Southern France, and, it is said, without any 

 injury to vegetation. 



Chromic acid as an antiseptic. — Dr. Dougall states that chromic 

 acid, as an antiseptic, is far beyond carbolic acid, and, in fact, may be 

 considered as standing at the very head of the list. In one instance an 

 ounce of ox muscle was immersed for twenty four hours in a solution of 

 one part of chromic acid in 2,000 of water, and then suspended in the 

 air. At the end of six days it became as hard as wood, in which con- 

 dition it remained three months without mold or taint. The same 

 quantity of ox muscle was soaked twenty-four hours in a solution of one 

 part carbolic acid in 1,000 of water, and then suspended in the air, and 

 at the end of six days it was much hardened, colored brownish black, 

 speckled with mold, and distinctly tainted. Its action as an antiseptic 

 consists in coagulating the protein compounds, a property which it pos- 

 sesses in the highest degree; and its power of coagulating the albumi- 

 nous cells is ten times that of carbolic acid, twenty times that of bi- 

 chloride of mercury, and one hundred and fifty times that of chloralum. 

 It also coagulates, hardens, and oxidizes decomposing organic matter, 

 and when added to putrid tlesh, urine, or foecal matter, the offensive 

 odor is soon absolutely removed, the mixture remaining fresh for an 

 indefinite time. 



Origin of malaria. — Mr. DanielVaughan, of Cincinnati, contends 

 that malaria results primarily from the volatile oils of plants, which 

 become evaporated from their surfaces and are carried into the atmo- 

 sphere. If these were uniformly diffused, he thinks they would produce 

 little injury, but being carried from the high grounds into the moist, 

 damp, low lands, they become accumulated in an excessive degree, and 

 produce the evils referred to. He does not suppose that all the volatile 

 oils have the same efi'ect on human life, some, probably, being much 

 more potent than others ; but he thinks that this question can only be 

 settled by observation and experiment. 



