AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
361 
system. But of this more at another time. 
In regard to lead preparations, we have one 
word more to say. There is a large class of 
“ healing salves,” “ pain killers,” “ pain destroy¬ 
ers,” and pain what-nots, which we have been 
told contain oxide of lead as the chief agents 
for soothing irritation. We once analyzed a 
salve, which was very popular in the circle of 
our acquaintance, as curative for burns, and 
found it to consist chiefly of hog’s lard and a 
preparation of lead. This was put up by a local 
druggist, and how far it may resemble some of 
those more widely-known mixtures for the same 
purpose, we cannot tell. We were obliged to 
condemn the use of this, for the same reason 
that our correspondent condemns the “hair 
mixture.” We knew some persons who almost 
always had a burn, bruise, cut, or some other 
ailing that required a plaster of this all-healing 
salve. How many of them ultimately died of 
diseases produced by lead absorbed into the 
system will probably never be known. 
As there is much said of the danger of using 
water from lead pipes, will some of our medical 
readers favor us with an article on the danger 
from leul in salves, hair washes, red oxide of 
lead ointment, &c. A short article to the point, 
on the diemical and medical effects would be 
very acceptable to our readers. 
The subject of preserving and restoring 
health is of infinite importance to all, and we 
shall always find a place for plain, instructive 
articles on this subject. We by no means open 
our columns to this or that theory of medicine. 
We only aim to bring forward occasionally 
some of the plain, common sense principles, an 
understanding of which may conduce to the 
health and happiness of our readers, and pre¬ 
vent their falling into errors in the care of their 
bodies. We profess to no medical skill. We 
have studied the laws of chemistry much, and 
the laws of physiology some, and have taken 
the benefit of a coutse of medical lectures, not 
to practise upon others, but to assist our com¬ 
mon sense views as to the best method of guard¬ 
ing and preserving our own system. Without 
saying more now of dangerous substances, we 
will say that there is no danger in using plenty 
of pure air, good water, plain, wholesome food, 
clothing and shelter suitable to the weather, 
proper exercise and rest, and above all have a 
cheerful mind. 
suiting the interests of our readers—rather than 
that of the publishers—when we advise them to 
examine the book under review. 
GREAT NATIONAL POULTRY SHOW 
AT THE AMERICAN MUSEUM. 
Tnis is unquestionably the largest, the most 
varied, and the finest exhibition of Poultry that 
has ever been held in the United States. At 
the time we are writing this article—the first 
day of the show—Monday, the 13th February, 
nearly FOUR THOUSAND specimens of Poultry 
have already been received, and many more 
are expected to-day and to-morrow. These 
embrace swans, many varieties of geese, ducks, 
turkeys, pea-hens, guinea hens, barn-door fowls, 
from the monster Chinese varieties, as large as 
turkeys, down to the bantams, hardly bigger 
than a quail; pigeons, gold and silver pheasants, 
partridges, prairie hens, California and other 
quails. 
In addition to these we find the Madagascar 
and other rabbits, guinea pigs, and various pets 
and other curiosities. 
The fowls occupy the three large stories of 
the Museum, and those visiting them will also 
have the opportunity of seeing the giraffes, and 
several other curiosities. Price of admission 
for the whole, only 25 cents. We trust all 
who take an interest in such exhibitions, will 
not fail to attend, for they will not again soon 
find so great and varied a show of poultry. A 
full report will appear next week. 
Fanning’s Illustrated Gazetteer of the 
United States. Published by Ensign, Bridge- 
man & Fanning, 156 William Street, N. Y. 
400 pages large octavo, full bound, $1 75. 
See advertisement. 
This is a valuable book of reference, and is 
well worthy of a place upon the table of every 
person who wishes to keep up with the pro¬ 
gress of population, &c., in our country. The 
population, resources, government, educational 
facilities, &c., of all the larger, and of most of 
even the smallest towns, are given according to 
the last census, (1850.) An interesting feature 
in this work, is the full county maps of each 
State in the Union, and also maps of 14 of the 
principal cities in the United States. These 
last give the streets, with many of their names, 
and present to the eye the general plan of each 
of the cities. Such works as these add much 
interest to our g eneral reading, especially when 
m a <convenient form for use, and we are~con- 
Monday Evening .—Since writing the above, 
we have strolled through the exhibition rooms, 
and find many additions made during the day. 
We conversed with several fanciers, who have 
attended all the principal poultry shows held 
in various parts of the country, and they all 
agreed that this far exceeds them all, both in 
the number, and the beauty of the fowls exhib¬ 
ited. We counted the names of over a hundred 
exhibitors, and did not go over the whole list. 
We should say that half the States in the Union, 
or perhaps more, are represented. More than 
600 coops are entered, nearly all of which con¬ 
tain very choice specimens. We never saw the 
poultry fever with so high a pulse. Several 
pairs of fowls were “priced” upon the cages 
$20, $30, $40, and $50, and we noticed gentle¬ 
men eagerly inquiring for the owners, saying, 
“ I take that cage.” 
As we go to press this evening, we have not 
time to enumerate a tenth part of the exhibitors, 
or their specimens. We give a few of those we 
first met with. 
R. O. McCormick, Jr., of Woodhaven, L. I., ex¬ 
hibits some 55 coops, among which we noticed 
Brahma Pootras, Buff Shanghais, Dorkins; very 
choice Peacocks, Ducks and Pigeons; a trio of 
white Shanghais said to be the largest in the 
United States—they took the first premium at 
Albany last week—also a cage of Prairie Hens 
and two fine American Eagles. 
J. W. Platt, of Rhinebeck, N. Y., has about 
60 cages, in which we noticed very fine lots of 
game fowls, silver spangled Polands, ducks, &c. 
T. M. Rodman, of West Farms, N. Y., shows 
a splendid lot of 60 Pigeons, of several varieties. 
R. L. Cole, of Patterson, N. Y., shows a large 
lot of wild water fowls, ducks, geese, &c. These 
are quite unique and worthy of attention. 
G. P. Burnam, of Boston, has here a large lot 
of gray Shanghais, and a very fine show of lop- 
eared Rabbits. 
Geo. Smith, of Valley Falls, R. I., exhibits a 
large collection of Brahma Pootras, &c. 
II. Kneeland has a splendid lot of small Ban¬ 
tams, black-reds, &c. 
Plaisted and Bennett, of Great Fall, N. II., 
exhibit a large lot of gray Shanghais. 
B. and C. S. Haines have a very choice col¬ 
lection of Brahma Pootras. 
I. E. Havailand, of Hempstead Branch, L. I., 
shows two pairs of American Swans which have 
been domesticated. 
G. II. Bachelder, of Lynn, Mass., shows a 
large lot of Shanghais, Brahma Pootras, Ban 
tarns, &c. 
Aaron E. King, of Patterson, N. J., also'shows 
a large lot of several varieties. 
The beauty of the exhibition is much en¬ 
hanced by the presence of fine specimens of 
swans, peacocks, wild geese, horned owls, deer, 
terrier dogs, &c., &c. We must omit further 
notice until our our next paper. 
If the National Poultry Show is not far in¬ 
ferior to the late fair of the Pennsylvania 
Poultry Society in Philadelphia, we will under¬ 
take to eat all the chickens which are exhib¬ 
ited .—Germantown Telegraph. 
We can inform our Germantown friend, that 
if he is in the mood of eating the inmates of the 
National Poultry Show, now crowing and cack¬ 
ling for customers at Barnum’s, he will need to 
bring for the accomplishment of that trifling 
feat, all the Dutch stomachs, however capacious 
they may be, that inhabit that ancient borough, 
and he may add also, all their cousins and other 
relations within the twentieth degree of consan¬ 
guinity. 
The New-York State Poultry Society have 
chosen the following officers for the ensuing 
year: 
President— D. S. IIEFFRON, of Utica. 
Vice Presidents — Francis Rotch, Butter¬ 
nuts ; M. Vassar, Poughkeepsie ; Lewis F. 
Allen, Black Rock. 
Cor. Secretary — R. C. McCormick, Jr., 
Woodhaven, L. I. 
Pec. Secretary and Treasurer —R. U. Sher¬ 
man, Utica. 
Managers —Samuel T. Tabor, Dutchess; 
Thos. W. Ludlow, Jr., Yonkers; Samuel 
Thorns; N. Y. City; C. W. Godard, Albany; 
A. P. Hammond, Westport, Essex county; W. 
II. Southwick, New Baltimore; Samuel S. Bre- 
man, Hampton, Washington county; George 
St. George, York Mills, Oneida county; A. A. 
Hudson, Syracuse; R. H. Van Rensselaer, Ot¬ 
sego county; F. W. Collins, Ontario county; 
Isaac E. Haviland, L. I.; Abner Baker, Roches¬ 
ter ;Wm. Walsh, Bethlehem, Albany county; 
John H. Cole, Columbia county; D. W. C. Van 
Slyck, Warner county; J. Wyman Jones, Utica; 
N. S. Smith, Buffalo; Curtis Moses, Syracuse; 
Thos. Gould, Cayuga county. 
High Prices for Poultry.— The poultry fever 
does not show any signs of decreasing. At the 
show at Albany last week a large number of 
sales were made. A. A. Hudson, of Syracuse, 
sold to D. P. Newell, of Rochester, three white 
Shanghais for $60. Mr. McCormick bought 
four Chittagong chickens for $20. A trio of 
wild geese sold for $15. Three Seabright Ban¬ 
tams sold by Mr. Childs for $50, to Mr. Haines 
of Elizabethtown, N. J. Mr. McCormick sold 
a coop of eight ducks, Aylesbury and crested, 
for $20. Messrs. Blight, Gilmore & Co., of 
Utica, sold three Brama Pootras for $30, and 
refused $50 for one cock of same breed. A great 
number of other sales were made at similar 
rates to those given above. 
