172 ON THE USE OF 



it. I I hold it, therefore, as a point of much importance, that 

 the whole of the acid should be directh^ applied to the bones, 

 and that no other substance should be allowed to intercept or 

 abstract their mutual affinities. 



A very convenient and cheap vessel for manufacturing- the 

 mixture is a sug-ar hogshead, having- its holes stopped with 

 plaster of Paris. It is very desirable to avoid if possible 

 an}^ measuring- or weig-hing- of the acid, as it is so very dan- 

 gerous a substance to handle. Many serious accidents oc- 

 curred to m}^ knowledg-e during- the last year, and it is very 

 difficult to impress farm-servants with a sufficient deg-ree of 

 caution, or even to convince them that a liquid which appears 

 so colourless will burn their skin and clothes. In emptying- 

 a carboy of acid, even into a tub, it is difficult to prevent a 

 little slopping- about and damaging- the clothes of the attend- 

 ants, as well as the basket, etc., which contains the carboy. 

 To prevent these unpleasant consequences, I have adopted 

 the following- plan: — The carboy is placed on a stag-e or 

 cask the same height as the sug-ar hog-shead, into which is 

 put the precise quantity of bone-dust we intend mixing- with 

 the carboy of acid. The water is now added with a water- 

 ing'-pot having- a rose at the end, so as to disperse it tho- 

 roug-hly, and the carboy of acid is then emptied by means of 

 a syphon. This syphon is formed of a })iece of block-tin 

 pipe, which can be bent into any form, about three-quarters 

 of an inch in calibre, and four feet in leng-th. A brass cock 

 is soldered to the long- end of the syphon, on which the rose 

 of a watering-pot may be placed. The syphon is now filled 

 with water, and its long- end closed with the cock, and the 

 small end with the hand or finger. The latter is then 

 quickly inserted into the mouth of the carboy, the cock 

 turned on, and the acid will continue to flow till the vessel is 

 nearly empty, without any assistance, so that the attendant 

 has no occasion to expose himself to the injuries and offensive 

 fumes which almost immediately begin to escape. He may, 

 however, approach the windward side of the tub, and give 

 the mixture a little stirring, which should be continued for 

 some little time afterwards, so that the mixture may be 

 com})lete. A convenient utensil for this purpose is a fork 



' I have not found that any considerable quantity of the acid passes 

 through the bones into the heap of ashes or earth ; and though Mr. 

 Spooner's is the better plan, where his ai)paratus can be easily procured, 

 I still think that the expedient I mentioned may be found sometimes con- 

 venient. — Ph. Pusey. 



