16 
Proceedings of tfie Royal Irish Academy. 
the objects were finally drawn, as magnified by the Jth object-glass. So 
enlarged, they are represented on the Plate. Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, are drawings of characteristic groups, where the 
rounded or irregular globules show the moisture, whilst the rectangular 
forms within so many of them are those of the crystals. It was a most 
beautiful sight to see them in the process of formation, and to observe 
those formed under their transparent veil of water, that liquidly rounded 
over their upper lines and angles in a manner too delicate for the 
pencil to pourtray on a scale so minute. In some globules, as fig. 6, 
one crystal was set upon another ; in others, as figs. 4 and 5, there 
were crowds, more or less irregularly heaped. Groups of crystals, appa- 
rently deposited from the breeze, already formed and in a dry state, 
are shown in figs. 7 and 10. Again, at fig. 12, they are found in con- 
tiguity with minute drops containing crystals. The dry ones had either 
come from a greater distance, or been longer in the air. Eight rhombic 
crystals of sulphate of magnesia are represented in fig. 9 ; of these, com- 
paratively few were found. Tinally, though the object represented at fig. 
13, as well as the oblong outlined object at fig. 12, were found with 
the sea breeze, they were not belonging to it. They came from human 
beings on board a vessel in which some of the experiments were 
made. 
From a medical point of view, the knowledge of the existence of 
sach crystals may be of importance. A shower of such minute salt hail 
rattling down through the lung pipes or into the eyes has its effect. 
Thus they may help to irritate weak eyes ; and I have seen chemosis, a 
sort of dropsical effusion of the conjunctiva, arise in delicate children, on 
exposure to the sea air. On the other hand, salt, being a gentle stimu- 
lant, as well as a rubefacient, may, in indolent or chronic cases, be of 
use. 
The effect, in lung diseases, cannot be of little importance. The 
breathing of air containing crystals of salt is likely to irritate and injure 
in at least some stages of consumption, whilst in other stages it is pos- 
sible that it may be of advantage. In acute inflammatory affections it 
is likely to prove injurious ; in slow chronic cases it may assist a cure. 
It is probable that the quantity of salt in the sea air is far from con- 
stant ; the results of an investigation into the sea breeze of the west and 
north coasts of Ireland is what I have here depicted. 
These observations, I believe, willhelp to account for whatis recorded 
as " the first of the wonders of Erinn" (according to the Book of Glen- 
dalough"), mentioned in the Appendix to the Irish version of l^ennius. 
Here is the statement : — Innis Gluair in Irrus Domnann : this is its 
property, that the corpses that are carried into it do not rot at all ; 
neither does the meat unsalted rot in it." 
The fact of a great quantity of salt being borne on the Atlantic 
breeze affords, in my opinion, a reasonable explanation of this wonder. 
The second " wonder of Erinn" was stated to be the petrifactive power 
of Lough Neagh ; modern investigations have corroborated the fact, and 
revealed the cause. 
