332 
IMPROVED REFRIGERATORS, ETC. 
vents its occurrence, and proves, when properly ad¬ 
ministered, the speediest method of cure. In order 
to render this mode of treatment still more effectual, 
it may be accompanied with decoctions, or drinks 
of the following vulnerary herbs :— 
Shepherds’ purse, a handful; comfrey root, 
washed, 2 lbs.; plantain, sage, and nettles, each, a 
large handful. 
To be boiled in a gallon of water till it is redu¬ 
ced to three quarts; strain off, and give a quart 
once a day. 
To cooperate with these means, the regimen of 
the cow must not be forgotten. Her diet should 
consist of the softest and most succulent kinds of 
food, such as Indian-meal gruel, currants, bran 
mashes, &c. In point of situation, she should be 
kept under cover, and not exposed to the heat of 
the sun, either by placing her under a shed, or in a 
stable or barn. 
IMPROVED ROTARY CYLINDER STRAW 
CUTTERS. 
We observe the American Institute, of this city, 
recently awarded the first premium for Messrs. Rug- 
gles, Nourse & Mason’s improved straw cutters. 
This we deem but a sheer act of justice to this 
highly meritorious implement. There was an 
unusual competition in this branch of agricultural 
implements, and numerous good specimens of cut¬ 
ters were offered for premiums. This machine was 
also awarded the first premium at the New-York 
State Fair, recently held at Buffalo, and it has also 
received numerous premiums at various county 
agricultural societies, mechanical associations, in¬ 
cluding the Mechanics’ Fair, held at Worcester, 
Mass., during the last month. We shall give a 
particular description of it in our next. It is for 
sale at our Agricultural Warehouse, 189 and 191 
Water street, New York. 
IMPROVED REFRIGERATORS. 
It has long been the practice of house keepers 
and others to preserve perishable articles by pack¬ 
ing, or placing them in a box, or chest of ice, with 
which they come in contact or are exposed to a 
damp atmosphere, &c. These objections are en¬ 
tirely obviated by the method described below, 
which has been improved by me and patented in 
the United States. It offers essential advantages to 
persons who store ice for sale, as, by this plan, 
they can have, at all times, a large, cool, dry room 
attached to their ice houses, without any additional 
cost for ice, after the ice chamber has properly 
been filled to the depth of 10 or 12 feet, which 
need not be done but once a year. 
This invention, I conceive, is founded on true 
philosophical principles. It is the natural ten¬ 
dency of heated air to ascend, and of cool air to 
descend ; and if an apartment has ice properly ap¬ 
plied, the whole of the air within it will eventu¬ 
ally assume a uniformly low temperature. The 
proper application of ice should be on the top ; as, 
from the warm air constantly ascending and com¬ 
ing in contact with the metallic ceiling, the tem¬ 
perature must very soon become uniformly cool; 
and the moisture of this warm air will be conden¬ 
sed in drops and carried out of the building, and 
the air inside thus kept dry. 
The mode of entrance into the room is governed 
by the same principle. There can be but little or 
no displacement of the air inside the well entrance , 
which, in this case, acts as a valve, and so per¬ 
fectly, too, that, when a lighted lamp is held be¬ 
low the well, and the doors are opened above, no 
disturbance of the flame is perceptible. The door 
way can be made at any height from the bottom 
that may suit the location, and the well can be con¬ 
structed either inside or outside of the building. 
What, then can be better for preserving fruit, 
vegetables, meat, cheese, &c., than a cool, dry 
room, easy of access, placed in any situation, and 
of any size % There are now several such in suc¬ 
cessful use, on a large scale. 
Some may object to the keeping of ice above 
ground, but it is a well-ascertained fact, that this 
substance will keep best in this way, if well venti¬ 
lated and kept dry—and it is very difficult to do 
this under ground. 
Improved Refrigerators.—Fig. 84. 
Explanation of the Engraving .—The walls of 
the main building, a, a, may be constructed of stone, 
brick, or wood—the latter is preferable from its 
dryness. 
6, 6, a space of six inches to be filled with saw¬ 
dust, or any good non-conductor—oat chaff may be 
preferred, as it will not heat. 
c, c, c, a space around the sides and bottom of 
preserving room e, four inches wide, made tight by 
having the boards plowed and grooved, to prevent 
any circulation of air, thereby rendering it a supe¬ 
rior non-conductor, cutting of all possible commu¬ 
nication from the outside atmosphere, and thus sur¬ 
rounding the preserver with a cool dry air. 
d r a tight, tin or metallic floor laid on slats, sup¬ 
ported on joists (slightly raised in the centre to 
throw the waste water to the sides), passing over 
the chambers c, c, c, forming the gutters i, ?, and 
extending six inches up the sides. 
e , preserving room, which can have an open 
floor, to make two stories, so that the air can have 
free circulation through it. 
f /. Dropping boards (a few inches below the ice 
floor d, one inch or more apart to allow a free pas¬ 
sage of the air; overlapping each other with 
grooves, to convey the water from the lower side of 
floor d. This water is produced by condensation 
