144 



proportion to the volume of the beef, aud the loss is augmented by 

 exposure to light. The loss is least when these conditions are 

 reversed ; but when the volume of the beef bears a very large proportion 

 to the volume of the gas the beef will not be preserved at all. 



V. When beef is kept in binoxide of nitrogen a sufficient length of 

 time to coagulate the albumen, it does not afterwards putrefy when 

 exposed to the air. 



VI. Lungs, brain, or hide, when kept a sufficient length of time in 

 binoxide of nitrogen, will not afterwards putrefy on exposure to au". 



YII. Nitrogen, protoxide of nitrogen, carbonic oxide, cai'bonic acid, 

 aud hydrogen cannot be employed to preserve meat from putrefaction. 

 Of all the gases named in Series 3, binoxide of nitrogen alone preserves 

 the colour and consistence of the meat unchanged. 



VIII. No conclusions of any practical value can be drawn fi'om the 

 fourth series of experiments, since the preparations were not kept a 

 suflBcieut length of time. The results seem to indicate that the action 

 of binoxide of nitrogen would not be impaired by a certain proportion 

 of nitrogen or carbonic acid. Future experiments must determine the 

 best proportion of the gases for such a mixture, the minimum quantity 

 for a given quantity of meat, the length of time during which it must 

 be immersed, and, finally, whether such preserved meat can have any 

 commercial value. 



Although these experiments were interesting in a scientific point of 

 view, and were attended with some degree of success, yet they were not 

 of such a nature as to justify me in recommending a trial of the process 

 on a large scale. The high price of the materials required for making 

 the gas, the necessity of sending such materials to the country from 

 which the meat was to be imported, the impossibility of procuring in 

 those countries persons sufficiently skilful to manipulate with gases, 

 were considerations not to be overlooked. I reported accordingly, aud 

 was liberated from the engagement uito which I had entered. 



The experiments were made the subject of a paper which I read at 

 the meeting of the British Association at Liverpool, in September. 

 1854. A very imperfect and inaccurate notice of the paper appeared 

 in the Report of the Association, and in some of the scientific 

 periodicals. The Abbe Moigno was present in the chemical section 

 when the paper was read, and requested a copy of it for inseition in his 

 *' Cosmos." I wrote a copy in extenso, and sent it to the Abbe at Paris. 

 The receipt of this paper was not acknowledged, and no notice 

 appeared in the Cosmos. 



On the 20th January, 1855, and again on the 5th April, I wrote to 

 the Abbe, requesting him to insert the paper as he had promised, or, if 



