288 CHYMISTRY APPLIED TO AGRICULTURE. 



may penetrate into every corner ; after which whitewash the 

 walls and ceilings with lime, and at the end of several days 

 the animals may return without danger. 



The vapor of chlorine (oxigenated muriatic acid) may 

 be employed for fumigation instead of sulphur, it being 

 more active than that : for this purpose, put into a vessel 

 which can bear the fire, two ounces of finely pulverized 

 oxide of manganese, and pour upon it ten ounces of the 

 muriatic acid of commerce ; set the vessel over a chafing- 

 dish of burning charcoal, and a vapor of a greenish yellow 

 color will soon appear upon the surface of its contents. 

 This vapor, which is very suffocating, will spread through 

 the whole enclosure and destroy all infection. To make the 

 matter perfectly sure, place vessels of the same kind in the 

 several parts of the enclosure, and thus kindle so many dis- 

 infecting fires. 



Before the fumigation is begun, the outlets of the building 

 must be carefully closed, in order that the vapor, by being 

 confined, may produce its full effect. The persons having 

 the charge of the heaters must go out into the fresh air as 

 soon as the vapor begins to affect their respiration. 



Animals that are crowded together in low, damp places that 

 are not well lighted and aired, often become filthy, and then 

 the moisture and the animal exhalations conspire to render 

 the dwelling an unwholesome one. This evil may be reme- 

 died by either of the following methods. Place portions of 

 limestone in several vessels raised a little from the ground ; 

 the limestone will absorb moisture from the atmosphere and 

 likewise the carbonic acid given out by the animals, and will 

 consequently fall in pieces and effloresce ; this air-slacked 

 lime may be used for whitewashing and other purposes. Or, 

 kindle a strong flame with straw or dry small wood, taking 

 care to watch it well, and to remove the remains of the fire 

 as it ceases to blaze ; by this last means the whole internal 

 atmosphere will be changed. 



I have employed each of these methods many times, and 

 always with success. 



