286 Transactions of the American Institute. 



thousand, and it was adopted by the city authorities, mainly because 

 there was no substitute. Lead pipe is of great antiquity. When 

 I was in Pompeii, I saw large lead pipe broken off where a wall 

 had fallen down. They had no other way of making it than to 

 cast it in halves, and then solder them together. 



Mr. H. B. Smith. — We should take into consideration that some 

 kinds of water can be more safely used for lead pipe than others, a 

 Soft water is absolutely dangerous. In Norwich, where many' 

 have lingered for years with lead poison, one will be laughed at if 

 he should assert lead pipe is not poisonous. 



Dr. J. M. Crowell. — In our profession we are much indebted to 

 lead pipe for giving us many cases of paralysis. 



Dr. Isaac P. Trimble. — Printer's colic is a well known disease, 

 still few printers die with it. 



COVER FOR PICKLED MEAT. 



Mr. John Burgum, Concord, N. H., exhibited a new cover to keep 

 meat covered with brine. It has three adjustable, galvanized 

 pointed ii'ons, which hold the cover at any point within the barrel, 

 and it seemed quite useful. 



HYDE & CO.'S SORGHmi EVAPORATOR. 



The committee on Hyde & Co.'s Sorgo Evaporator, Baltimore, 

 reported favorably, stating that it removes the disagreeable taste; 

 that it will evaporate 100 gallons per day; that it is portable, and 

 that it can be used for maple or beet sirup. 



VARIETIES OF CORN. 



Dr. S. J. Parker, Ithaca, N. Y. — It is said that the yellow corn 

 sent as donations to the suffering poor at the South was fed to the 

 pigs. The Northern yellow corn is as digestible as the Southern 

 white varieties. I have eaten both in their best localities North 

 and South. There is grown a coarse, oily yellow corn, for cattle, at 

 the South, that is quite indigestible. But it is false that the com- 

 mon early yellow sorts at the North are in the least inferior for 

 table use to the best Southern white. The white variety is better 

 to the eye — that is all. The Narraganset is a dwarf variety, with 

 green leaves and stalks or cane; very early; the ear quite large for 

 the stalk; just the right size to boil and eat; very sweet and choice. 

 The Olcott is later than the above, red leaves, stalk, and husk; is 

 also a dwarf variety. When fully grown, is large in the kernel, 

 fine-sized ear, quite sweet, but not so much so as the Narraganset. 

 The Onondaga — this is the common variety here in Central New 



