m. ledoyen's disinfecting fluid. 
275 
the foetid exhalations arising from sores, and that it eliminates 
one of the most excellent applications to gangrenous sores yet 
known. 
" In regard to the last and most important application of the 
disinfecting fluid to the removal of the foetid and offensive odours 
arising from privies, cesspools, night-soil, &c, it will appear 
from what has been already stated, that so far as the offensive 
effluvia result from sulphuretted hydrogen and hydro-sulphate 
of ammonia, this liquid will totally remove them. 
" The odour resulting from phosphuretted hydrogen and from 
the other less offensive compounds, will still remain; hut as 
these odours are neither so offensive nor so readily diffused to a 
distance as the sulphuretted hydrogen, a most important and 
beneficial improvement will be effected, particularly in the pro- 
cess of removal. 
" It remains to consider what benefits or injuries may result 
from the employment of this liquid in respect to the subsequent 
use of the night-soil as manure. 
" Two important advantages will no doubt be attained; the one, 
the conversion of a prejudicial and poisonous ammoniacal salt ; 
viz. the hydro-sulphate of ammonia into an inodorous and highly 
fertilizing compound; viz., the nitrate of ammonia. The other 
advantage is, that by removing that poisonous and injurious 
compound, thereby saving the long and offensive exposure of 
the night-soil to the air, which would be otherwise necessary, 
and which is not only disagreeable, but, by the consequent loss 
resulting from the volatility of the ammoniacal salts, is also in- 
jurious. 
"On the other hand, there is one problematical objection to the 
extensive applications of this fluid as a manure to land ; namely 
that the small quantity of the metal employed may possibly, by 
its accumulation, be productive of ultimate mischief; but this 
requires further investigation and experiment. 
" The above suggestions are made without any desire to de- 
tract from the merit due to Messrs. Ledoyen and Calvert, in 
having thus directed public attention to the use of chemical re- 
agents as a means of removing a very serious and dangerous 
impediment to the sanatory condition of towns. 
The above facts and statements are chiefly derived from 
