610 Miscellaneous Results from the Laboratory. 



In the advanced stages, however, even these agents fail to support 

 the system against the debilitating effects of the disease, and we 

 must now employ both vegetable and mineral tonics ; the sul- 

 phates of iron, and quinine, gentian, ginger, columba, and the 

 barks, are the best. Before concluding these remarks on the 

 treatment, which are of necessity very much condensed, I shall 

 allude to another remedy which has many advocates, and properly 

 so in my opinion, namely, counter-irritation, or the application of 

 stimulating ointments and liniments to the sides of the chest. This 

 class of remedies is generally adopted when active inflammation 

 pervades some internal organ, and with the happiest results ; and 

 although I do not view pleuro-pneumonia as essentially an inflam- 

 matory affection, still we can easily understand that benefit will 

 follow the use of a counter-irritant. By the long-continued 

 action of an agent of this kind, the inflammation which it excites 

 in the skin will be attended with effusion of the albuminous parts 

 of the blood into subcutaneous tissue, and thus we artificially 

 produce a disease here analogous to that of the lungs and thereby 

 give relief to those organs. 



I might add many observations to the foregoing on the 

 nature and treatment of this disease, but hope to have said 

 sufficient in explanation of the principles which should govern 

 our proceedings both with a view to its prevention as well as 

 cure. It is evident that no specific can exist for such a malady ; 

 and it is likewise equally so that he who undertakes its treatment 

 without a knowledge of its nature, and of the structure and 

 functions of the organs it affects, is acting like an ordinary artisan 

 who sets about the repair of a machine the wheels and levers of 

 which he has never investigated. 



XXX. — Miscellaneous Results from the Laboratory. By J. 

 Thomas Way, Consulting Chemist to the Society. 



(It is proposed to publish under this title, from time to time, the re- 

 sults of isolated analyses made by the Chemist of the Society, which, 

 although not sufficiently important to form the subject of a separate com- 

 munication, may yet possess an amount of value to justify their introduc- 

 tion in a Journal devoted to agricultural improvement.) 



Analysis of Sprats. — It is well known that on the coasts of Sussex, Kent, 

 and Essex, such quantities of sprats are at certain seasons taken, that they 

 are frequently employed as an economical and very powerful manure. 

 They have been used for many different kinds of crops ; but more espe- 

 cially for wheat and hops, which plants are known to be benefited by 

 highly nitrogenous manures. 



Although the general chemical characteristics of fish are well known, I 

 was induced to examine the composition of sprats, partly to develope their 

 exact manurial value, and partly in the hope of finding some way of 

 cheap preparation by which they might be rendered fit for transportation 



