220 
THE BORDERLAND OF CHEMISTRY AND ELECTRICITY. 
oxidising action on organic putrefying matter and entering into 
chemical composition with the gases produced by the putrefying 
matter. 
Bodies laid in a church yard, the earth of which is impregnated 
with oxides of iron, (always provided the ground is not overcrowded 
with bodies) never become a source of contamination or disease. 
Provided there are sufficient oxides of iron present, a carbon and iron 
filter will absorb many times more pounds of putrefying organic matter 
in solution than a carbon filter, before renewal is required. If putrefy¬ 
ing matter electrolytically treated with iron plates is mixed with ordin¬ 
ary soil in given quantities, as against given quantities of putrefying 
matter and ordinary soil only, it will be found that the electrolytical 
compounds of iron prevent putrefaction in the first mixture, whereas in 
the latter putrefaction will take place. 
Electrolysis is largely used for producing chemicals which once 
were entirely made by chemical action alone. It is used for taking 
those dreadful nevi or blood stains from the skin. It is used medically 
for rheumatic and gouty cases, and I believe in the near future its 
importance will be still more recognised as a curative. The very 
action of the ‘ X* rays, or, what I think I have proved to be the case, 
the minute brush discharge combined with the ‘ X 3 rays—on rheumatic 
cases certainly has seemed to relieve pain. I mentioned cases of cure 
in my lectures here in November, 1896-7. The action on the skin is 
distinctly like electrolysis after long-continued application. Three 
cases of lupus at the Liverpool Hospital have been completely 
cured by means of the ‘ X 3 rays and possibly brush discharge. 
Other cases are reported as cured from the Continent, and if, as it 
seems, the cure is caused by change of the chemical constituents, one 
may say from putrefactive rot to healthy living cells, then the action 
again points towards electrolysis. I certainly partly cured a case of 
sarcoma some two years back, which is vouched for by Dr. Cooper. 
We will now try an experiment with iron electrodes, demonstrating 
the process I have applied to organically contaminated water. This 
water I have in the small glass tank in front of me consists of a 
solution of dye added to water. It is an organic dye, and therefore 
represents organic matter in solution. To this is also added a solution 
of what represents sewer gas, sulphuretted hydrogen and sulphide of 
ammonium. You see by placing a light behind this small glass tank 
that the solution is of a brown-pink colour. I now place in the tank 
the iron electrodes, which are in series, and connect with these 
batteries. The particles of organic matter in solution are, as you see, 
being greatly split up and appear as a flocculent precipitate. The 
detestable odour of sulphuretted hydrogen has gone, and, as you see, 
the solution is now as clear as potable water (applause). 
Experiments were carried out some years back over a period of 
something like four years, the money being found by some friends 
and myself—some ten or twelve thousand pounds. They were con¬ 
ducted in electrolytical troughs of iron, the sewage experimented on 
