[305] SCIENTIFIC MANUAL. 19 



When the process is once begun, oxygen is set free, 

 which, again uniting with the elements of the body, facili- 

 the progress of the phenomenon. Salt, applied to meat in 

 sufficient quantity, penetrates the pores of the meat by 

 asmodic action, and destroys the fungoid germs already in 

 the meat, as well as those which it receives by deposition 

 from the air. 



Salt, applied to the compost heap in large quantities, has 

 a tendency to retard both the fermentation and the result- 

 ing decomposition of the mass. Applied in small quanti- 

 ties, its action may be beneficial in preventing too rapid 

 fermentation, and the consequent excess of heat, resulting 

 in what is commonly known as "fire-fanging." 



In the compost heap slow combustion [called by Liebig 

 eremecausis (slow burning)], resulting from the union of 

 free oxygen of the air with carbonacious substances, takes 

 place in conjunction with internal fermentation. 



The same occurs in the decay of leguminous plants, such 

 as peas, clover, etc., which contain nitrogen in considera- 

 ble quantity, when turned into the soil in a green state. 



The souring of milk is supposed to be caused by the 

 fungus pemcilium glaucum, which, it is thought, converts 

 the sugar of the milk into lactic acid. When the protect- 

 ing covering, or skin of fruit, is broken or abraded, the 

 flesh is attacked by microscopic fungi, which cause rapid 

 decay. 



Sulphur occurs naturally in some parts of the world, es- 

 pecially near volcanoes, but it is more generally combined 

 with some other elements. It is found combined with iron 

 and copper in f j>yrite and copper pyrites, and also with lead 

 and zinc as sulphides of these substances. 



In commerce, sulphur has two forms : brimstone, or stick 

 sulphur, and a fine powder known as flowers of sulphur. It 

 burns readily with a blue flame, forming sulphurous acid 

 gas, which has bleaching properties. The flowers of sul- 



