467 



subsisting between tbe chemical composition of vegetable 

 fibre, and the surrounding silica, carbon, lime, and other 

 nearly insoluble earths. Such, at least, is the result I have 

 arrived at by direct experiment, and such the interpretation 

 I have ventured to build upon the fact. 



Ellerman's deodorizing fluid, the base of which consists 

 of a persalt of iron, is understood to be identical with that 

 which Messrs. Dam, of Brussels, and Coutaret, of Paris, 

 have recently patented on the continent. To render the 

 removal of the privy drainage practicable without creating 

 a nuisance, has been a desideratum with local authorities, and 

 has led to the trial, on several occasions, of the respective 

 merits of these liquids in accomplishing this object. The 

 results of this competition, as might be supposed, are 

 variously stated; but all accounts agree that they are 

 effective in abating the stench when mixed with decom- 

 posing substances, and this is the point in which the public 

 is most interested. In some of these instances, as though 

 night soil and putrid blood were not sufficiently offensive, the 

 phosphuret of calcium and the bisulphuret of carbon have 

 been superadded to the mixture, so as effectually to test their 

 disinfecting powers on decaying animal and vegetable refuse, 

 and with the like conflicting measure of success, according to 

 the testimony of the observers. In ships, workhouses, and 

 naval hospitals, Burnett's fluid is most in favour ; in the 

 wards of civil hospitals that of Ledoyen has been much 

 employed; the Poor Law Guardians of Hackney, and the 

 Pharmaceutical Journal, seem to give the palm of superiority 

 to Ellerman ; and finally, whilst the Liverpool Health Com- 

 mittee take a Mr. Bromley's liquid by the hand, and Mr. 

 Young strives to introduce manganese, the public generally, 

 unconscious of their relative value, resort to Beaufoy as a 

 household auxiliary when they want to get rid of a stench. 



To enter into further details as to the uses of these various 



