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KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



the truth of this novel statement should he 

 thoroughly investigated ; and we will gladly 

 assist the matter, by discussion in our columns.] 



Wire Lace. — Let me direct your attention to a 

 very pretty novelty just patented — Wire Lace. 

 This, which is capable of being electro-plated, is 

 attracting much attention, and is likely to lead 

 to many new forms of ornament. It seems that 

 Mr. Sturges, a well-known manufacturer of 

 electro-plate, residing in Birmingham, was 

 anxious to strike a lace pattern upon some of his 

 goods. For this purpose, he procured some 

 samples of ordinary bobbin-net, tbe patterns of 

 which he was enabled to transfer, by electricity, 

 to soft substances, but could not imprint them 

 upon hard metals. As a substitute, he caused 

 some crochet-work, in a pliable wire, to be made; 

 which answered the purpose in one respect, but 

 was not sufficiently delicate in fabric or elegant 

 in design. He then thought it possible that the 

 Nottingham lace-makers might, by using very 

 fine-drawn, pliable wire, make a metallic lace to 

 answer the purpose. With this view, he put 

 himself in communication with Mr. Henry 

 Carey, of Birmingham, who, having succeeded 

 in making the article required, has patented it in 

 Mr. Sturges' name. As much of the interior 

 of the bobbin-net machine has to be recon- 

 structed for the working of wire in the place 

 of cotton, there may be some delay in making 

 many varieties of pattern; but the multifarious 

 uses to winch it can be adapted, particularly by 

 the Birmingham manufacturers, will, no doubt, 

 ere long cauie a large demand for it. — James 

 W., Leeds. 



Honey Bees. — Seeing, in Part viii. of your 

 excellent Periodical, some remarks on the im- 

 policy and cruelty of destroying honey-bees — 

 will you please tell me the best way of getting 

 the huney without having recourse to the cruel 

 practice referred to? — Ebor, Hayes. 



[We beg to refer you to Taylor's " Bee- 

 Keeper's Manual " — a small volume published 

 by Messrs. Groombridge and Sons. We ex- 

 tracted largely from it, in our early Nos. ; and in 

 it you will find all you require to know.] 



How to keep Pigeons Healthy.— Will you 

 oblige me by telling me how I can keep my 

 pigeons well and hearty? Is there not some 

 preparation used for them, to peek at? I have 

 heard something about it, but forget the parti- 

 culars. By the way, I have had rare difficulties 

 to get your Journal here ! I ordered it through 

 a stationer at Oxbridge, many times. He said 

 he had ordered it of his bookseller in London ; 

 but it was of no use " ordering it,'' for they would 

 not send it. The last part I have, is Part 8 [Part 

 10 is published]. This I was obliged to get by 

 post. However, never fear ; I will persevere till 

 I get the whole. — Ebor, Hayes, Middlesex. 



[The " composition" to which you allude, is 

 called " salt-cat." Pigeons are not only fond of 

 salt, but in order that they may be well, it is 

 essential that they eat large quantities of it. Pro- 

 cure a large stone jar, or an earthen pipkin. 

 If the former, let there be large holes in the 

 sides. These are both sold by the dealers in 



earthenware. In these, place the "salt-cat," 

 which is to be made thus ; — Take (say one quart 

 of each) slaked lime; old mortar, well bruised; 

 sifted gravel ; and clay, as used by brick-makers. 

 Add to these, a quarter of a pound of Carraway 

 seeds, and half a pound of bay salt. Incorporate 

 the whole, with a strong brine ; and knead 

 it into a stiff paste. Keep this near your 

 dovecote, and your birds will never be 

 ill. Be sure to keep them always well 

 supplied with cold water, aye, with gallons 

 of it. No bird requires so much water as a 

 pigeon. With respect to the difficulty you have 

 experienced in procuring Our Journal, — we 

 receive similar complaints, by almost every post, 

 from all parts of the country. We supply our 

 Journal on the most liberal terms to the trade; 

 and have offered them advantages which they 

 can get nowhere else. They acknowledge 

 " they hate our Journal," and this is all " tbe 

 explanation" they will condescend to give us for 

 their attempts to burke it. However, we shall 

 not make it "licentious" to please them; but let 

 it stand or fall on its own merits. We are much 

 obliged to you for your perseverance in obtaining 

 it ; and hope you will continue as one of our 

 body-guard. We need it.] 



London and its Public Conveyances. — You 

 have already sounded the alarm in your " Code 

 of Health," for people to take care of themselves. 

 The cholera is even now amongst us ; and your 

 caution is well-timed. To strengthen your re- 

 marks, I forward you some valuable observations 

 which appeared in the London Medical Examiner 

 of January, 1851. They apply to the present 

 times most forcibly, and are worthy of record in 

 Our own Journal. — " More than twenty years 

 ago, we w r ere in the habit of riding frequently in 

 the Paris omnibus; a nice, roomy, well -ventilated 

 vehicle, with plenty of space for knees and el- 

 bows, where a duchess might sit at her ease, and 

 the asthmatic patient breathe with the same free- 

 dom as in his own chamber. The conductors 

 well-dressed and civil; the coachman going a 

 steady pace, but though rather tortoise-like, he 

 reached his destination without loitering on the 

 road; he gave his passengers time to get fairly 

 seated before he started ; and did not endanger 

 their lives and limbs by jolting them off the 

 steps at their departure. Drunken people, bun- 

 dles of linen, sheep's-heads, baskets of fish, and 

 other offensive articles, were not permitted to 

 annoy the eyes and noses of the travellers, and 

 dirty straw did not encircle their feet. More- 

 over, for three pence, a person could be put down 

 in any quarter of Paris. The above description 

 will apply to the present mode of travelling in 

 Paris, as well as to that of 1829. At the latter 

 period there was not an omnibus in London. 

 But why are our vehicles so badly regulated? 

 Simply because government takes no concern 

 about the matter, so long as it gets the duty; 

 like the sale of quack medicines, the money is 

 the object; the public welfare is a secondary con- 

 dition. But what has this question to do with a 

 Medical Journal, it will be asked? We have in- 

 troduced the subject, because we believe it is one 

 that materially concerns the public health. It is 

 nothing to us, if people wish to be squeezed and 



