1022 Transactions or the American Institute, 



Dr. Parmelee said that it was wuU known that constantly breathing 

 camphor is very injurious. Most people are not aware of the small 

 quantity that will produce serious effects. This should bo more 

 generally known, if this drug is to come into general use. 



The chairman remarked that phenol or carbolic acid has been tlte 

 germ of numerous and decided improvements in many branches of 

 practical science. It is death to all parasites, as they cannot resist 

 the action of this acid. It is one of the best remedies for the foot- 

 rot in sheep, as this disease is probably caused by a parasite. It has 

 also been successfully employed in curing the scab in sheep. The 

 sulphite of soda is now much used in the treatment of scarlet fever, 

 which is believed to be caused by some minute organism, but experi- 

 ment has not yet determined whether it is vegetable or animal. 

 The trouble with this disease is that after the fever is conquered, the 

 patient but half cured, for a long time evils often follow, such as 

 deafness, catarrh, etc., wdiich sometimes last for life. 



Mr. J. Phin said that it seems that many of the lives of the lower 

 order of animals are destroyed by sulphur. While it is conclusive to 

 all the higher animals, it is destructive to the lower. The itching 

 class find it a poison, while the higher forms of life find it an advan- 

 tage. Sulphur is the only good remedy for mildew on grape vines. 

 It does not form sulphurous acid by being in the open air. The 

 sulphide of calcium has been found very effectual on vines. 



Mr. T. D. Stetson stated that fresh burned charcoal has a very 

 practical effect in arresting putrefaction. It has also a good effect 

 when taken in the stomach. If fresh burned charcoal is mixed with 

 the food of the horse, it will benefit the animal much ; but, it is par- 

 ticularly of advantage to those animals that get their food in a half 

 decayed condition. 



The chairman remarked that charcoal is a deodorizer, but not a 

 disinfectant. It is a deodorizer by its property of absorption. 



Analysis of Zinc Compound. 



Mr. William E. Gifford stated that he had analyzed a piece of 

 corroded zinc, shown at a previous meeting, which had been sus- 

 pended in a steam-boiler to prevent corrosion. He found it to con- 

 tain forty-three per cent of metallic zinc, and fifty-three per cent of 

 oxydized metal, and the balance consisted of fatty acids. 



Mr. C. E. Emery said this piece of zinc was suspended in a boiler, 

 in order that the metal which was more readily oxydizable than the 



