Pyroligneoiis Acid. 69 



" But Justice held the bahuice with one hand, and the prism 

 of Newton with the other; — admitting of no delusion, she gives 

 her award in silence, uninfluenced by i)assion. 



" England presents her with no work equal to that of the 

 learned Malus, and Justice places the crown on the brow of an 

 enemy scarred with wounds, the honourable marks of battle 

 waged between the two nations under the walls of Cairo and 

 Alexandria. 



" Science is not only just — impassible only when equity re- 

 quires it; she in every other case succours mankind with her 

 benevolent aid. 



" During thirty years of war and bloodshed — Civilization, the 

 daughter of Science, has maintained her rights, and often applied 

 them to the noblest purposes. 



" Thus the Institute of France and the Royal Society of 

 London have rivalled each other in generous philanthropy. At 

 their intercession, captives have been liberated whose learning 

 might be useful to mankind ; and, to their praise be it spoken, 

 the Governments on both sides the sea have always yielded with 

 zeal to the solicitations of those scientific Institutions, who in 

 gratitude have paid the ransom of the liberated by their presents. 



" The Academy of Sciences, by awarding to the celebrated 

 Davy, about the same period, the prize for his Galvanic researches, 

 showed itself equally impartial, and superior to the prejudices of 

 popular hatred." 



XV. Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 



PYROI^IGNEOUS ACID. 



Extract of a Letter from M. G. C. at Paris, to Professor 

 Van Mons. 

 *' A DiscovKiiY of the greatest importance engages at this 

 moment the attention of the scientific world. A M. Monge has 

 discovered that the pyroligneous acid obtained from the distilla- 

 tion of wood has the property of preventing the decomposition and 

 putrefaction of animal substances. It is sufficient to plunge meat 

 for a few moments into this acid, even slightly eni|)yrcumutic, 

 to preserve it as long as you please. Cutlets, kidneys, liver, 

 rabbits, which were thus prepared as far back as the month ot 

 July last, are now as fresh as if they had been just procured from 

 the market. I have seen carcases washed three weeks ago with 

 pyroligneous acid, in which there is as yet no sign of decomposi- 

 tion. Putrefaction not only stops, but it even retrogrades. Jakes 

 exhaling infection cease to do so as soon as you pour u\nm them 

 the ijvroligncous acid. You may judge how many important ap- 



E 3 plications 



