ils Manufaciiire and Uses. 13 



answers equally well with toiigjues, requiring a little more acid, 

 on account of the thickness and hardness of the integuments. 



Upon dried salmon it answers admirably; brushing it over 

 once or twice had a better effect than two months' smoking in 

 the usual way, and without the same loss from rancidity. — From 

 the result of a few experiments on herrings, he is persuaded that 

 this mode of curing might be most advantageously introduced 

 in our fisheries, so that herrings might be cured here superior to 

 those imported from Holland. 



These experiments so satisfactorily demonstrating the anti- 

 septic qualities of this acid, where only small portions of salt 

 were employed, Mr. S. was then induced to try the results of 

 the application of this aci-d- when no salt was employed : he 

 placed some beef steaks upon a plate, and covered the bottom 

 with the acid, the steaks being daily turned ; and at the time of 

 recording the experiment, he noticed that they kept above six 

 weeks without the least tendency to putrefaction : this experi- 

 ment was made in the middle of July IS 15. 



The first experiments reported by Mr. Sockett were made at 

 the commencement of the year 1815, nearly six jears since. Not 

 only Mr. S. but many families in Swansea and its vicinity prac- 

 tise' with the greatest success this mode of curing hams, tongues, 

 beef, fish, &c. 



Within these two or three years, paragraphs have appeared in 

 different periodical works, published on the continent, as well as 

 in this kingdom, testifying the antiseptic qualities af the pyro- 

 ligneous or wood acid. I have no recollection of any observa- 

 tion on such an application of this acid, anterior to the experi- 

 ments of Mr. Sockett. This acid is very easily and cheaply pre- 

 ))ared : the first distilled product of the wood, in that state de- 

 nominated black acid, answers the best when separated from its 

 tar and naphtha. More than 70 gallons of acid, sufficiently 

 strong, are proi:ured from a ton of wood : this quantity of wood 

 is readilv procured at lOs. a ton, delivered at the works. Sup- 

 posing the expenses of the manufacture to be equal to the pur- 

 chase of the wood (and which is making a very ample allowance, 

 as the residual charcoal is equal in value to the wood employed), 

 the value of 70 giillons of acid will not exceed 20*. or about 

 !i\d. a gallon : a gallon is (juite sufficient for 2f cwt. of pork, 

 beef, and most animal substances, with the addition of a compa- 

 ratively small portion of salt, not only affording a considerable 

 saving in this article, but hIso materially contributing to the in- 

 crease of flavour and nutritive (piality. Hams or beef cured this 

 way rerjuire no previous soaking in water to being boiled, atid 

 when boiled swell in size and are extremely succulent. 



TIic 



