c 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [July 1, 1903. 
superphosphate supplies fully 10 per cent, more 
liDie than ordinary acid superphosphate. 
The superior solubility in cold water of basic 
superphosphate compared with good basic slag 
containing 38'97 phosphate of lime and 83-80 fine- 
ness, is shown in the following table :— 
Solubility in Cold Mater after 48 Hours, 1 Fart Mamre 
to 1,000 Parts Cold Water. 
♦Portion soluble in cold 
water 
Portion insoluble (after 
ignition) 
Basic 
Super. Slag. 
66-80 
33 '20 
6-60 
93-40 
lOO'oo 100-00 
♦Containing— _ ^ 
Soluble lime .. 22-28 4-70 
Phosphate of lime None None 
It will be seen that basic superphosphate is fully 
ten times more soluble in perfectly cold water than 
well ground basic slag, the fifrures being 66-80 against 
6-60 per cent. Further, that there is 4*80 lime dis- 
solved out in the former against only 4 80 in the latter. 
These figures may, perhaps, explain why basic 
slag fails on certain soils, while it produces excellent 
results upon others. It is not ordinary water that 
ia capable of deoomposicg a hard fused mass like 
slag, however finely it may be ground, but water 
impregnated with vegetable acids. In other words, 
it ia only on sour acid soil that special benefit may 
be expected from the application of slag. It will 
be noticed that no phosphate of lime was dissolved 
out by plain water from either manure, because on 
account of the presence of lime in excess, all the 
phosphate of lime waa retained in a precipitated 
form in the basic super, and in a more insoluble 
form in the slag. 
Solvhility t«(ltn 1,000) Citric Acid Solution (1 part 
Manure to 1,000 parts Solution) after 24 hours. 
Basic Super. Basic Slag. 
♦Portion soluble in citric 
solution 
Portion insoluble (after . . 
ignition) 
94-20 
5-80 
38 80 
61-20 
..lOO-OOO 
22-17 
8-70 
18-99 
100-00 
« Containing — 
Soluble lime .. .. 34-73 
Soluble phosphoric acid 12 45 
Equal to phosphate of lime 27-18 
The above figures show that when both manures 
were treated in esactly the same manner^ in re- 
gard to the quantity and strength of citric acid 
solution, with the same tima allowed in each case 
for exhaustion with the standard solvent, basic 
super was dissolved to the extent of 94-20 per cent., 
as against 38 &0 per cent, in the case of the basic 
slag. Further, 34-73 lime was dissolved in the former, 
against 22-17 iu the latter. Lastly, 27-18 phosphate 
of lime was dissolved out of the basic super, against 
18 99 out of the slitg. The slag employed was the 
same as was used in all the previous experi- 
ments, and was of good quality and well ground. 
Though the slag contained 38 97 total phosphate 
of lime, only 18-99, or less than half, was dissolved 
by the standard solvent, and may therefore be 
considered to represent the proportion probably 
available as plant food. It is very important to bear 
these figures in mind, and to remember that it is 
not the total amount of phosphate of lime present 
in slag that should be regarded as indicative ot its 
mannrial value, but the actual quantity that is likely 
to be available as plant food, llence, as a quick- 
acting manure, siuitable for late application in the 
spiiDgi basic super must be regarded «is far superior 
in fertilising effect to ordinary slag, notwithstanding 
the high total contents of phosphate of lime con- 
tained by the latter, — Journal of the Society of Arts, 
{To he continued.) 
QUININE AS A CURE FOR 
RINDERPEST. 
Sib, — With reference to your leading article in last 
night's issue of the Time) of Ceylon, I thick you 
have been very much misinformed with regard to 
the advancement made in dealing with riuderpest, 
A great advance has been made, and most men 
of experience have little fear of an outbreak pro- 
vided rules laid down for its suppression are strictly 
observed. Preventive inoculation only discovered 
during the past few years has proved most suo- 
oessfnl — an instance where "learned savants" have 
not laboured for years without resolt. 
With regard to your statement that no treatment 
has been recommended in Ceylon except wholesale 
slaughter of infected cattle, burial of bodies; ino- 
culation of contacts (strange that inoculation comes 
in if no advancement has been made) thorough dis- 
infection, &c., I can only say that it is absolutely 
incorrect and shows want of knowledge of what 
has been written on the subject. Wholesale slaughter 
has never been commended — quite the reverse. Ex- 
cept annual reports, at the moment I can only 
refer you to two pbamphlets written by myself : — 
1 "Notes for Cattle Owners," published in 1897, 
and II., a pamphlet on "Rinderpest" written for 
the Planters' Association of Ceylon in 1899. I have 
no doubt the Secretary would be glad to forward 
you a copy. If I am not mistaken it was printed 
at your office. 
With regard to the quinine treatment, quinine 
has been recommended by me for many years (I 
enclose a page from "Notes for Cattle Owners," 
giving the prescriptions in 1897) modified in 1899 to 
some extent, as great difficulty was found in pro- 
curing drugs in remote districts. 
The treatment now given to the stock inspectors 
of the Veterinary Department, and now being carried 
out by them, is as follows .- — 
" Quinine " 1 to 2 drama Mixed. 
Arrack J bottle To be given once or twice 
Rice congee 4 bottles a day. 
I have also found the administration of Jeye'a 
fluid very beneficial in checking an outbreak — given 
to all animals both healthy and sick in ten drop 
doses daily in the food. 
Spraying all the cattle in an infected shed with 
Jeye's fluid and water is also carried out both in 
rinderpest and in foot-and-mouth disease. Bile in- 
oculation is also practised, fall particulars of which 
you will find in the pamphlet prepared for the 
Planters' Association in 1899. 
It is quite possible that the Indian " discovery " 
has been made on information derived from Csylon. 
The Indian dose, I may say, is absurd — 40 grains 
for a good-sized bull! You will notice the dose 
reeommeuded in Ceylon is 2 drams — or 120 grains. 
Where cattle have been properly isolatecl, and the 
instructions carried out, we have had. little difficulty 
in suppressing outbreaks in Cejlou. The instances 
where outbreaks have become somewha.t extended 
have all been in remote villafjes difficult of access, 
and with semi-wild cattle roaming free from village 
to village, and whose owners are averse to inter- 
ference and who would sooner hide the disease than 
report it — thinking that it ia due to the anger of 
th<^ gods and that, if stayed, aome calamity will 
come upon them. 
I may add that quinine in a bad case of rinderpest 
as with other blood mpflioiiics, is usefnl, but is not 
by any meana a specifi . as stated in your telegram 
G. W. STRUGESS, 
ColombOi Jane 30th, Govt. Vet, Surgeon, . 
