Proceedings of the Polytechnic Association. 869 



SUXFLOWEES AS A PrEVENTR'E OF INTERMITTENT FeVERS. 



In consequence of experiments long since made in tins country 

 and of the publicity recently given to the statements made by M. 

 Martin, before the Societe Therapeutique of France, on tlie admirable 

 results obtained by planting the sunflower as a disinfectant of the 

 miasma causing intermittent fever, the Minister of Agriculture and 

 the head of the Sanitary Bureau in the Department of the Interior in 

 Italy have been actively engaged in promoting measures to secure 

 the like desirable results in the most fever-stricken districts in that 

 kingdom. 



In regard to the last item read, Dr. Vanderweyde remarked, that 

 in a recent journey in Omaha he had found dense growths of sun- 

 flower plants, extending for hundreds of miles. These were said to 

 liave sprung originally from seed accidentally sown by emigrants on 

 their way to the remote -West. 



Dr. J. V. C. Smith said that the Spaniards, under De Soto, found 

 the sunflower one of the principal products grown on the Mississippi 

 river, at the time of its discovery. Its uses by the aborignes are not 

 known, but it is thought that the oil from the seed was used as a 

 substitute for butter in cooking, and that it supplied the place of 

 animal fats, in the practice of the primitive arts of the savages. 



Mr. J. K. Fisher stated that the sunflower seed oil, for painting 

 purposes, was inefficient, because of its inability to dry by the use of 

 litliarge, etc., and it is of little value as compared with animal oils 

 for lubricating purposes. 



Dr. D. D. Parmelee remarked that the manufacture of cotton seed 

 oil was formerly considered of little worth, but great developments 

 have taken place. Among tlie uses it is now put to is that of adul- 

 terating olive, or sweet oil. The cotton seed oil being exported to 

 Italy, and brought back under the name of olive oil. 



Dr. Vanderweyde stated that of late cotton seed oil is made very 

 white and clear, and largely applied to the uses mentioned by Dr. 

 Parmelee. 



Safety Railroad Truck. 

 Mr. David McFarland exhibited a model of his safety railroad 

 truck, in which the journals, safety straps, and the guards arranged 

 over the wheels are so applied, that in the event of the breaking of 

 the axle the car will be prevented from running off the track, and 

 thus avoid serious accident. 



