[ 557 ] 
of Chalk being pounded, 30 Grains of it proved 
fully as feptic as the former. The fame Powder 
was compared with an equal Quantity of Salt of 
Wormwood, and Care was taken to fhake both the 
Mixtures alike : But, after three Days warm Digeftion, 
the Salt had neither tainted nor foften’d the Flefh, 
whilft the Chalk had rotted and confumed that 
which was joined to it. Nor were the EfFeds lefs 
of the teftaceous Powders of the Difpenfary. Egg- 
fhells in Water refitted Putrefadion, and preferved 
the Meat longer firm than plain Water *. 
11. To try whether the Teftacea would alfo 
dittolve vegetable Subftances, I infufed them with 
Barley and Water, and compared this Mixture with 
another of Barley and Water, without the Teftacea. 
After a long Maceration by a Fire, the plain Water 
fwelled the Barley, became mucilaginous and four } 
but that with the Powder kept the Grain to its 
natural Size, tho’ it foftened it, made no Mucilage, 
and remained fwcet. 
12. Nothing could be more unexpeded than to 
find Sea Salt a Haftener of Putrefadion. But the 
Fad is thus. One Drachm of Salt preferves. two 
Drachms of frefh Beef, in two Ounces of Water, 
above 30 Hours, uncorrupted, in a Heat equal to 
that of the human Body} or, what amounts to the 
fame, this Quantity of Salt keeps Flefh about 20 
Hours longer fweet, than pure Water} but half a 
Drachm of Salt does not preferve it above 2 Hours 
longer. This Experiment has been already men- 
tioned. 
* The Trial was made with a coarfe Powder, of this Subftance, 
but not repeated. 
B b b b 2 
