32 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



to contain abundance of phosphate of lime, the most useful manure 

 for exhausted soil. This proved to be true, and was the origin 

 of the great industry of superphosphates which has done so much 

 for agriculture. Dr. Daubeny thereupon suggested that when 

 coprolites failed, mineral phosphates, such as he had seen in 

 Estramadura, might be utilized, and from this source an enormous 

 trade has since been developed. 



Drainage was another matter to which Dr. Buckland paid 

 special attention, and with remarkable results. By judicious 

 draining he arrested the spread of ague in the villages on Otmoor, 

 and materially improved the health of the inhabitants, in whom 

 he was originally led to take an interest by reason of many of 

 them being tenants of lands belonging to the Dean and Chapter. 

 On coming into residence as Dean of Westminster, he at once 

 had a great task before him in the cleansing of the old sewers 

 (from which something like 400 cubic yards of foul matter was 

 removed), and in the introduction of pipe drainage, which was the 

 first of its kind ever laid down in London. 



Other sanitary reforms followed, particularly in regard to the 

 dwellings of the poor in Westminster, and the improvement of 

 the water-supply of the metropolis. In 1848, on the outbreak of 

 cholera, he rendered important aid by the information which he 

 afforded on its prevention by care in sanitary arrangements, 

 as well as on the properties of disinfectants, and the best modes 

 of applying them. 



His knowledge of the relative value of different building 

 stones caused him to be often consulted by architects and 

 surveyors, who were guided by his opinion, and this not only in 

 London, but in the provinces. At Weymouth, for example, 

 when the new breakwater was about to be constructed, the old 

 one having suffered much damage by the Pholas boring into 

 the limestone, Dr. Buckland recommended that Portland stone 

 should be used, for the Pholas, he said, would not bore into it so 

 readily, on account of the amount of silica, or flinty matter, 

 which it contained. Thus did he practically turn to account the 

 teachings of science. 



The reference to stone reminds us of the many stories which 

 have been circulated respecting the discovery of living toads in 

 cavities of solid rock, in which, it is alleged, they must have been 

 entombed for ages. Dr. Buckland made a number of experiments 



