FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS. 
527 
from particles of animal matter, &c., being introduced into the 
bladders, and these being suspended on poles placed across 
in vats of water, at the end of the third or fourth day it will be 
found that almost all the common salt and nitre of the brine 
have been removed and the liquid contained in the bladders is 
pure juice of flesh in a fresh and wholesome state. This 
may be employed for making rich soups, or by evaporation, 
and mixed with flour, made into meat biscuits, or packed in 
tins and jars for sale. It is highly nutritive and admirably 
adapted for hospitals, ship's stores, or an army in the field. 
The salt and nitre may, of course, be easily reobtained, and 
again used. It need hardly be said that the saving thus 
effected is immense. Mr. Whitelaw states that two gallons 
of brine yielded one pound of solid extract. For the pro¬ 
duction of the same amount of extract something like twenty 
pounds of lean beef would be required. The quantity of brine 
annually wasted, he says with truth, is very great. He 
believes that in Glasgow alone 60,000 gallons are thrown 
away yearly. If it be estimated that one gallon is equal to 
seven pounds of meat in soup-producing power, then this is 
equal to a yearly waste of 187 tons of meat, and estimating 
the meat at 6cl. per pound, the loss amounts to <£10,472. 
This has reference only to one town. In the great American 
curing establishments, the brine wasted must be enormous, 
as during the last season in eight Federal states 4,000,000 
pigs were slaughtered and cured. 
Thus by the application of a scientific principle, only 
recently demonstrated by Professor Graham, a waste material 
is rendered of considerable commercial value. 
Purification of Arsenical Sulphuric Acid. —For 
this purpose M. Blondlot recommends that the peroxide of 
manganese should be used so as to oxidize the arsenious acid. 
The way he proceeds is as follows:—Peroxide of manganese 
is added in the proportion of four to five grammes to the 
kilogramme of sulphuric acid, and the mixture heated to 
boiling in a porcelain dish, stirring all the time. It is then 
allowed to cool, transferred to a retort and distilled. M. 
Blondlot has distilled to dryness acid so treated, and never 
found a trace of arsenic in the distillate. 
Colour and Odour of Urine. —Dr. Thudicum believes 
that he has isolated these principles in urine. To the first 
he gives the name of Uro-chrome , to the latter that of Otto of 
urine. Scherer obtained from urine a red matter, which he 
termed urohcematin , which he considered resulted from the 
