114 
MISCELLANEA. 
necessary again to heat the shoe, so that the hardening effect of 
hammering (or stamping) is not lost. The advantages of the 
patent horse-shoe machine, in addition to the economy of labour 
(for the apparatus for heating and bending would turn out shoes 
for 150 or 200 horses in an hour), are, that the shoes are formed 
exactly to a predetermined shape, which can be varied, but 
always with certainty, to particular requirements. Dr. Hobson 
insists upon the advantages of a “ level tread ” for the horse, 
and the patent shoe is made to that purpose (exceptional cases 
omitted). It is much lighter than the hand-made shoe, but in 
no respect inferior in strength; and it is so formed that the nail 
heads are protected, and by this means, and the support of the 
“ clips,” the liability to cast a shoe is diminished. In a para¬ 
graph, we cannot attempt a full description of this invention, 
but it appears to us to be well worthy of public attention, which 
we invite to it.— The Leeds Intelligencer. 
ON FIXING AMMONIA IN STABLES. 
Sir, —Mr. Reece, in his letter, in your paper of to-day, on 
the above subject, recommends sulphate of lime moistened with 
diluted sulphuric acid, as an absorbent of ammonia, that volatile 
gas which affects the vision of, and produces many diseases 
in, horses. Mr. Reece’s remedy may be, and no doubt is, a 
good one; but it is very improbable that it will be adopted by 
any non-scientific person (who would find a difficulty in obtaining 
and applying the ingredients), and as I have found a very 
cheap and efficacious remedy which can be universally applied, 
I hope you will give the public the benefit of publishing in your 
columns the means of obtaining a sweet and wholesome stable, 
and so prevent future injury to that valuable animal the horse, 
which it is as much our interest as it is our duty to do. 
My remedy is granulated or powdered peat charcoal, which 
is very cheap, and can be applied by every stable-boy; and 
such is the affinity between ammoniacal gas and peat charcoal 
(carbon) that the former, whenever it is anywhere near the 
latter, is attracted to and retained by it, and thus the serious 
evil of the dissemination of the poison is entirely eradicated ; 
independent of which, the intermixture forms the most valuable 
manure, and will amply repay the expense of the trivial alter¬ 
ation which it will be expedient, but not indispensable, to make, 
by excavating under the centre and end of the stall to a depth 
of about twelve inches, and partially filling up the excavation 
with the charcoal (the communication from the centre to the end 
being by a simple drain), which will entirely absorb and deodorize 
the gas. 
