400 
ON  NITRATE  OF  IRON. 
able.  The  grape  crop  of  the  present  year  will  he  much  influenced  by  the  late 
spring  frosts ;  and  a  species  of  mildew,  probably  the  oidium,  has  made  in 
some  vineyards  extensive  inroads  on  the  grapes  after  they  have  attained  half 
their  growth.  Mr.  Rehfuss  finds  the  application  of  a  dilute  solution  of  sulphu- 
ret  of  potassium  to  stop  the  progress  of  this  blight  when  timely  applied.  From 
the  results  of  his  experiments  he  anticipates  much  success  in  the  production  of 
tartar.,  and  in  the  manufacture  of  pure  brandy.  After  duly  availing  themselves 
of  the  elegant  hospitality  of  their  hostess,  and  not  forgetting  the  Pure  Cataw- 
ba of  their  host,  the  Association  returned  to  the  Hall  highly  gratified  with 
their  visit. — Editor.] 
EVENING  SESSION,  8  O'CLOCK,  P.  M. 
After  the  organization  of  the  meeting  and  the  reading  of  the 
previous  minutes,  Dr.  Guthrie  offered  the  following  Resolution, 
which  was  unanimously  adopted. 
Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Association  are  due  and  are 
hereby  tendered  to  Mr.  Lewis  Rehfuss  for  the  many  interesting 
and  valuable  facts  furnished  in  connection  with  the  culture  of 
the  grape,  and  for  his  generous  hospitality. 
John  Scott,  of  Cincinnati,  having  been  recommended  and  en- 
dorsed by  the  Credential  Committee,  he  was  duly  elected,  and 
signed  the  Constitution. 
There  being  no  further  business,  the  Secretary  read  the  gene- 
ral minutes,  which,  after  amendments,  were  adopted  as  a  whole, 
and  the  Association  adjourned. 
ON  NITRATE  OF  IRON. 
By  Thomas  Lancaster. 
(An  Inaugural  Essay.} 
Within  a  few  years  considerable  importance  has  become  at- 
tached to  nitrate  of  iron  as  a  remedial  agent  in  chronic  diarrhoea. 
Its  effectiveness  as  a  local  styptic,  with  its  genial  tonic  influence, 
seems  fully  to  answer  the  indications,  even  in  the  most  obdurate 
forms  of  that  insidious  disease.  The  chameleon  appearances  of 
the  article  supplied  by  the  apothecaries  of  Philadelphia  as  solu- 
tion of  nitrate  of  iron  suggests  that  there  is  something  wrong  in 
the  officinal  formula. 
One  supplies  a  fluid  containing  besides  nitrate  of  iron  con- 
siderable quantities  of  magnetic  oxide  ;  another  supplies  a  solution 
of  ter-nitrate  with  variable  proportions  of  proto-nitrate ;  all  vary- 
ing at  different  times  in  the  quantities  of  iron.    Nowhere  have  I 
