3G rNTRODTJCTIOIT. IV. 



coast, or drive them into tlie ocean far beyond the reach of the fishermen ; blast the 

 corn and grass on their farms ; introduce diseases of various kinds ; and smite 

 with barrenness tlieir sheep, horses and cattle, and even their own families.' " "\Ye 

 smile at the ignorant bigotry of these poor people ; but have we never heard as 

 great misfortunes predicted of almost every new improvement of the age we live 

 in, and that not by unlettered peasantry, i ut by persons calling themselves wise, 

 learned, and refined? As sad stories have been told against temperance, free trade, 

 or even against the exhibition in the Crystal Palace. 



The Orkney islanders were not long in finding the golden harvest which had 

 thus in the first instance been forced upon them, and within a few years " Prospe- 

 rity to the kelp trade!" was given as the leading toast on all their festive occasions. 

 This state of jarosperity lasted until the general peace, when the foreign markets 

 being thrown open, barilla came into competition with the home produce. The 

 manufacture of kelp gradually declined as the price fell, and now it has nearly 

 ceased altogether, for besides the competition with barilla, the modern process by 

 which soda is readily procured from rock-salt has brought another rival into the 

 field, and one against which it seems in vain to contend. 



Kelp is still made on a small scale for local consumption, and is sometimes 

 exported as manure, but at a very low price. It is not likely ever to rise again into 

 importance, except as a source of Iodine, which singular substance was first dis- 

 covered in a soap-ley made with kelp ashes. Iodine has now become almost 

 indispensable, from its medicinal value, as well as from its use in the arts and manu- 

 factures, and has been found in greater quantity in the fronds of cei-tain littoral 

 Alga3 than in any other substances. It is therefore possible that for producing this 

 substance these kelp-weeds may again become of mercantile importance. As a 

 remedy in cases of glandular swellings, the use of Iodine is now well established, 

 and it is a singular fact that several littoral Fuci have been from early times con- 

 sidered popular remedies in similar afi'ections. Fucus vesiculosus has long been 

 used by the hedge-doctors to reduce such swellings ; and Dr. Greville mentions, 

 on the authority of the late Dr. Gillies, that the "stems of a seaweed are sold in the 

 shops, and chewed by the inhabitants of South America wherever goitre is prevalent, 

 for the same purpose. This remedy is termed by them Palo Goto (literally Goitre- 

 stick)," and Dr. Greville supposes, from the fragments which he had seen, that 

 it is a species of Laminaria. 



Iodine however, though the most important, is not the only medicinal substance 

 obtained from the Algas. Gracilaria helminthochorton, or Corsican Moss, has long 

 held a place in the pharmacopo2ia as a vermifuge. What is sold under this name 

 in the shops is commonly adulterated with many other kinds. In samples which I 

 have seen, the greater part consisted of Laurencia obtusa, through which a few 

 threads of the true Corsican Moss were dispersed. Possibly, however, the Laurencia 

 may be of equal value. 



Mannite also has been detected by Dr. Stenhouse in several Algaj, to which it 

 imparts a sweetish taste. The richest in this substance appears to be Laminaria 

 saccharina, from a thousand grains of which 121.5 grains or 12.15 per cent, of 

 mannite were obtained. The method of extracting is very simple. The dried weed 



