VOL. XXVI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 433 



Salt quickens dead land, and is used in the south-west part of that country, 

 which would otherwise be the most barren, but is now the richest part of it. They 

 go as far as the sea will permit at lowest ebb, there take the sand in bags, and 

 carry it on horseback 14 miles into the country, and spread it upon the land, 

 thereby improving it both for corn and grass. In other parts they force their 

 barren land, by mingling the earth with lime, and casting it upon the ground. 

 In this they differ, that crude salt alone, if strewed on the ground, does not 

 improve, but corrode it; but lime, though unmingled, betters it: but in this 

 they agree, that they produce not grass fit for the scythe, but for pasture, short 

 and sweet, and growing all the winter; so that their sheep need not either 

 hay or water, nor are their highest grounds parched by the sun in the hottest 

 summer. The sea-salt is too strong and active of itself; the lime has a more 

 balsamic and gentler salt; and when regularly joined with the other, it is 

 thereby invigorated. How to mix these two, Glauber thus directs : '* Take 

 quicklime, let it slack by time, without water; then take salt and water, mingle 

 them together, and make them into balls or pieces, which you please; dry 

 , them as you do bricks, then burn them for about two hours. This compost 

 will enrich your poorest land." 



An Account of a Book, intituled^ Ou^jo-KpoiTti? Helveticus, sive Itinera Alpina Tria, 

 &c. Authore Joh, Ja, Scheuchzero, M. D. Land. Ato. I7O8. By Mr. 

 Edward Lkuydy Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum^ in Oxford. N° 316, 

 p. 143. 



In thd three journies among the Alps, of which Dr. S. has favoured the 

 public with an account, he considers the nature of the Alpine waters and me- 

 teors; the height, &c. of the mountains, and the most remarkable minerals 

 and plants they afford. He has also some occasional observations on animals ; 

 and others on the practice of physic; as well as on the customs and diet of the 

 inhabitants ; with some instances of the superstition of the common people, 

 and a few notes relating to antiquities. The whole is illustrated by numerous 

 plates. 



Of an Ideot at Ostend, who swallowed Iron, &c, with two other Surgical Cases, 

 By Mr. Claud. Amy and. N° 317, p. 170. 



A person who had been an ideot from his infancy, died at Ostend, in the 

 33d year of his age; his death having been preceded by 12 days continual 

 fever, and a considerable tumor and pain about the region of the liver. For 

 weeks before his death, he spit or vomited blood, and . had bloody stools. Op 



voLt V. 3 K 



