586 Kyanising, and other Modes 



its due share of consideration from the naturalist. The agency 

 of alburnous matter in an imperfect state is allowed ; but, 

 judging from the analogy that subsists between animal and vege- 

 table creation, we can only view this as a secondary cause. In 

 all bodies, whether animal or vegetable, where vitality has ceased 

 to exist, it seems to be a universal law of nature, in the process 

 of decomposition, to employ some active foreign power. Self- 

 destruction forms no clause in the natural code; therefore we 

 may rest assured that there is something else in operation, than 

 merely the presence of simple alburnous fluid. Animal bodies 

 contain the seeds of corruption within themselves; the different 

 fluids teem with countless millions of animated beings. When 

 the vital functions are brought to a close, these tiny tenants of 

 the veins and arteries commence the work of devastation upon 

 the more assailable matter : the putrid mass engenders animals 

 of larger dimensions, to gnaw the sounder portions of the frame, 

 and, shortly afterwards, the loathsome task of uniting earth to 

 earth is accomplished. 



It is possible that the decomposition of vegetable substances 

 is performed by means not very dissimilar to that of animals. 

 The germs of the dry rot may be communicated to the fibrous 

 mass through the medium of the secretive organs at the root. 

 Doubtless, the alburnous fluid is tenanted by legions of animal- 

 cules, the putrid remains of which in the sap vessels may form a 

 soil, or bed, for the developement of the embryo fungus. Im- 

 mersion in corrosive sublimate imparts no additional strength 

 to the woody fibre, it only destroys the vitality of the matter in 

 which the dry rot originates ; and, if the foregoing remarks on 

 the origin of the malady are based in truth, then we have within 

 our reach agents equally, or even more, effective, and far less 

 expensive, than corrosive sublimate. If it can be clearly proved, 

 that unconverted sap in timber is the source of the dry rot, as 

 already suggested, then I have succeeded recently in the in- 

 venting of a process, whereby the sap can be completely extracted 

 from logs of almost any size. By this process (the material for 

 the preparing of which can be had for picking up any where) I 

 find that oak timber can be divested of the sap, and so seasoned, 

 that, in less than ten hours after being cut, it may be put into 

 the hands of the carpenter. It was my intention to apply this 

 process to preventing the shrinking and twisting of larch 

 timber; but I have not had an opportunity as yet of making the 

 experiment : from what I have seen of its effects on oak, 

 however, I entertain the most sanguine hopes of success. 



An aptitude to act on superficial evidence is a fault common 

 to our nature; and hence we are too often led to mistake effect 

 for cause. Precocious decay, or dry rot, is an effect, in my 

 opinion, produced in most instances by the very questionable 



