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disinfecting sewage, &c., hydro-sulphuret of ammonia being 
in each case the chief noxious ingredient to be removed. 
In an essay on the use of peat by Professor Davy, of the 
Royal Dublin Society, published in 1850, that gentleman 
states as follows : — " I have most clearly established the facts, 
that all the varied kinds of peat obtained from our bogs, have 
similar deodorising and disinfecting properties to peat when 
charred, or peat charcoal ; and that those qualities may be 
increased to a certain extent, by drying the peat and reducing 
it to powder. Peat readily neutralises or destroys the most 
offensive odours arising from putrescent matters ; forming, 
by mixture with such matters, the most valuable manures, 
which will, on trial, I believe, be found not inferior to the 
guanos imported from South America and other localities, 
and which, as far as my experience has yet extended, may be 
rendered less liable to deteriorate by keeping than foreign 
guanos." " This valuable quality of peat," continues Pro- 
fessor Davy, " appears to me to be mainly due to creasote in 
combination, or to its elements in certain arrangements. Our 
bogs, apparently, undergo comparatively little changes in the 
course of ages ; their antiseptic properties are well known, 
and the remains of the organic beings of the older times found 
in them, are generally in a high state of preservation." 
I am inclined to think that the purifying agency of peat 
arises, not from creasote, but from the presence of the iron 
which we have seen plays so valuable a part in the purification 
of coal gas. 
APPLICATION OF PEAT TO THE MANUFACTURE OF STEEL 
AND CUTLERY. 
Here is a specimen of cutlery forged with peat : the 
compressed peat as obtained by the use of Lord Willoughby 
de Eresby's machine. This razor is from the manufactory 
of Messrs. Phelp, Wicker, and Co., of St. James's Street, 
