160 REVIEWS, ETC. 



III. Adulterants employed as diluents (fraudulent). 



IV. Adulterants used for imparting fictitious " strength," flavour, or colour, &e. 

 (fraudulent). 



V. Substances not employed as adultei'ants proper, but for the purpose of additional 

 ornamentation or flavouring (highly injurious to health, but not legally speaking 

 fraudulent). 



VI. Substances not employed as adulterants proper, being substitutions for or imita- 

 tions of, the true articles for which they are sold (distinctly fraudulent). 



Mineral Statistics of the United Kingdom. Part II. for 1858. By Eobert Hunt, F.E.S., 

 Keeper of Mining Becords. Longman & Co. 



Mr. Hunt, whose arduous and continued labours in the field of mineral statistics have 

 resulted in the accumulation of a fund of information regarding our metalliferous and 

 mineral industries, unparalleled in any other country, has just added another volume 

 to this stock, and on a branch of industry on which we have hitherto had no reliable 

 information. This part is devoted to returns of the produce of the clay works and 

 quarries of the kingdom. The value of the building stones and clays, &c, used is 

 shown to amount to nearly £8,000,000 per annum, which, added to the metals, 

 metalliferous minerals, and coals produced, shows that our annual mineral produce has 

 the enormous value of thirty-nine and a quarter millions sterling. This book will be 

 invaluable to all interested in earthy and mineral products, serving the purpose of a 

 directory as well as a statistical manual. 



The Silkworm. — The discovery of an infallible cure for the disease of the silk- 

 worm, by electricity, has been communicated to the Aoademie by M. Sauvageon, of 

 Valence. The result of M. Sauvageon's observations is most satisfactory. The electric 

 current has in every ca«e restored to health and liveliness the unfortunate silkworms 

 suffering from the guttine — that inexplicable malady which has extinguished two 

 whole species of the insect within the last few years. Marshal Vaillant, who is one 

 of the greatest naturalists of the day, has also presented his discoveiy upon the same 

 subject. During his stay at Milan, as Commander-in- . hief of the army of Italy, the 

 marshal had much experience in the study of the silkworm, and has collected a vast 

 number of notes which the Academie has decided upon publishing. His method of 

 treatment, less summary than that of M. Sauvageon, is said to be more efficacious, in- 

 asmuch as it prevents the return of the disease. M. Sauvageon's cocoons were the 

 object of the greatest admiration at the seance. Amongst the quantity sent by him for 

 examination, none were found wanting in any one quality required for the manufac- 

 ture of the finest and most brilliant silk. The method of treatment followed by him 

 was simple enough. He placed the silkworms on an insulated iron plate, directing the 

 electric current full upon the insects. In a moment they began to writhe, in their 

 endeavours to escape from the effect of the current. This lasted about ten minutes, at 

 the end of which time, on being replaced on fresh leaves, they began to work with 

 astonishing industry and vigour. 



Paraiba, Brazil. — The undeveloped resources of Paraiba are great. Immense 

 quantities of fine woods particularly adapted for furniture exist There are various 

 gums and oils. Gum benzoin, or benjamin, is used in the churches ; but the method of 

 collecting it is so impure, as to unfit it for an article of commerce. There are vast 

 tracts of sandy soil, upon which only two shrubs spontaneously grow, and these in 

 boundless luxuriance. The Mangaba {Hancornia speciosa of botanists), whose sap 

 becomes, upon exposure, a kind of elastic gum or rubber, but which has not been in 

 any way applied to use ; and a shrub with berries, called Battputa, from which a 

 vegetable oil is expressed, much esteemed by the people, who give it the preference to 

 olive oil for culinary purposes. These are but a few items of the resources of Paraiba, 

 one of the smallest provinces of the vast empire of Brazil. 



