Volume 35 (1877) (426 pages)

September 22, 1877.} MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 188 Wild Rose District. A correspondent of the Coso Mining Neves, . writing from Wild Rose, Inyo county, says : “Having looked in vain over the columus of the Vers for some news or information regarding Wild Rose, that yonthful hud of the Panamint range of mountains, and having despaired of ever receiving the much-desired iuforuration, I concluded, in that event, that as Wild Rose undoubtedly would not come to me, I would necessarily have to go to Wild Rose, and here I havo been ever since. And it seems the longer a fellow tarries here the better be likes Wild Rose. But really, to be candid, it is not surjvining that such should he the case, when we take into consideration its beantifol and . picturesque location and its surroundings; situated as at is, ins beautiful and luxuriant valicy on the Panaminut range of monntains, 25 miles distant, almost in a Me line east from Lookout, and conueeted therewith hy a well graded aud appointed road in every particnlar; and from Vanamiut, in a hee line, ahout 12 or 14 miles, and lying at an elevation of 10,000 feet ahovo the sva level. ‘Iho climato is nuexceptionable; in the day tine tho thermometer ranges from 60 tu 70 degrees, ‘The uights aro very cool, so much so that you cau sleep delightfully wrapped np in two or more of tho heaviest double blaukets. It is a matter of much surprise to me that tbis delightful little country valley is not overrun with tonrists aud pleasure-scckers during the heated scason, and thus avoid the sweltermg and dehilitating weather so common outside of this favored Eden. The hills and canyons here are thickly wooded with beautiful trees of that class of wood commouly known as nut-pine, cedar and juniper. ‘The Intter tree is ve-y luxuriant iu its growth, aud serves as a very heautiful shade trec. Game is plentiful, hut of the smaller class, embracing the jack rabbit, quail, doves, etc., and, I may mention, an over-ahundance of coyotes and the wily fox, which fact necessitates rather elevated roosts in the poultry yards, of which there are uot a few. The fonnder of this romantic little town was James Honan, When Panamint died that natural death that I fear has no wakiug, Houan, Arah-like, folded his téeut and silently glided over the mountains aud in here. He suhsequeutly entered into a contract with the Modoc company to furnish them with all the wood they required fora definite time for the smelting of their ores. However, the greatest difficulty that he and this camp had to overcome was how to ohtain a good supply of fresh water. But this harrier was soon overcome by the pluck and indomitahle perseverance of Honan, combined with that all-powerful lever, “the almighty dollar.” Sp that we can hoast of as good a supply of as pure fresh water as there is in the connty. The hills and mountains hereahonts are, beyond question, rich in the precious metals, articularly in that of silver, although I have Ben shown rock taken from ledges here rather richly impregnated with gold, leading me to believe that the time is not far distant when there will he developments made here in the line of mines and mining that will cast into the shade any and all similar efforts made within this county. August Hoeltze, a Prussian by birth and an experienced and practical miner, who arrived here from Arizona hunt recently, which latter place he has heen a resident of for years, prospectiug and mining alternately, is now occupied rin workiug a ledge that he recently discovered, abvut two miles from here. He is in company with a party by the name of McDonald, also a miner of no mean caliher, I have heen shown some of the rock that they have taken out of the tuunel and shaft, which are only in ahout 20 feet as yet, and I have no hesitation iu stating that it looks well, if not actually rich, and, . suppose, would assay at least $500 per ton. Mr. ©. Wiser, a noted expert on anything and everything relative to mines and mining, has been speuding the summer here for the benefit of his health, at the earnest advice of his physiciau. He has devoted a cousiderable portion of his spare hours, and when his health would admit, to prospecting after the hidden treasnre; it is almost snpertiuons for me to add, with marked success, if not wonderful. He informs me that he has located and recorded no less than 23 well detined silver-beariug ledges, some of which, he assures me, are unsurpassed iurichness. Itis his iutention, as soon as his health will permit, to commence the workiug of oue or all of them. CLAIM FOR SMELTING OxEe.—M. Seligman has filed a complaintin the Fourth District Court agaiust tho Coso Consolidated miniug company to recover $6,430. It is alleged that within the past two years the Cuervo mining compauy has heen a legal corporatiou. At the request of the defeudant tho Cuervo company smelted and converted into bullion 479 tons of lead and silver ore, under an agrcement hy which the latter was to he paid $23 for each tou of ore smelted; payment to he made at the completion of 100 tons. ‘The 469 tons were smelted hy March, 1876, and the defendant became indebted $11,030 to the Cuervo company. Of} that amouut only $4,600 has been paid. Before the commencement of the suit the Cuervo company sold aud assigned the halance of the indebtedness to the plaintiff, who now brings action to recover. Usefue INpoRmaTion. Making a Well. There are some who find it convenient to mako a well in the old way, although the boring and piping upparatus is of more geueral use. To such a hint from an article written for Scribner's Monthly, hy Mr. S. W. Pinkhaw, will be of assistauce to preservo the water from imupuro drainage or surface flow: ‘‘Virst, of course, the well must he so constructed that it cannot act asa drain for the neighhoring soil. This cau he done hy making the wall ahove low-water mark of some material impervious to water, or by omitting this part of the wall altogether, The tirst can be accomplished hy having the wall from a pomt two or threo feet front the bottom made of brick with a coating of hydraulic cement on its exterior, or of hydraulie well-tuhing with the joinings well protected with cement; in either case the varth should he thoroughly packed aronnd the wall, and a slight emhankment should he made arouud tho orifice to prevent the iu-flow of surface or storm water, “In such a well the draining surface is so reduced, and placed at snch a distance helow the surface of the gronnd, that in tho great majority of imstauces the introduction of foreigu matter hecomes impossible, except in so far as there is a chance that snbstances will fall into the well from above. ‘lo prevent this the well should be kept covered when not in use. In most cases, howover, it is better to omit the upper part of the wall altogether. After the excavation is completed, the wall can he hnilt iu the usual manner for a distance of two or three feet, morc or less, as circumstances may demand; the service pipe can then be placed in position, and the wall arched over. The remaiuder of the excavation cau then be Hlled with earth, well packed as it is thrown in, and tho pipe carried to any convenient point. It will he necessary to place ahove tbe arch several layers of stones snccessively smaller to preos the falling of the earth into the spaco below. “The workmen will prohably suggest a layer of turf or straw to accomplish this object, hut the presence of either of these substances will cause the water to he unpleasant for a considerahle time, aud will prove the cause of much aunoyance, “There is a prevalent notion that a well shonld be ventilated for the purpose of allowing noxions gases to escape, and that water is hetter for heing exposed to the air. IJ hardly need state that the only noxious gases in a well (i. ¢., gases which render the water unwholesome) are the products of the decomposition of organic matter which has found its way into the well in ways which have heen descrihed ahove, and that water, as it flows in its suhterranean passages is more perfectly aerated than it can he in any other way.” Postal Law Shams. ~ A writer in the ‘Contributors’ Cluh” of the Atlantic Monthly, for September, exposes what he calls the sham of postal laws, which discriminate between authors’ manuscripts intended for publication in book form and those offered as contributions to newspapers and periodicals, illustrating the result as follows: ‘* We authors write about 25 magazine articles each a year, Postage (letter rates) average 40 cents on each article—ten dollars a year for each of us. There are $48 authors in the country who write for magazines. Most of our articles are not accepted, hut are returned tous. We pay postage just the same, though, both ways. Com sidering, for the sake of argument, that we use the mail and not the express, our postage on matter sent aggregates $8,450 a year; return postage on upwards of two-thirds of our work hurled back upon our hands, say $6,000. Aggregate for the year, $17,480. Agyregate for three years, say, in ronnd nuinhers, $43,500. Among us, in this country, there are 441 who write hooks as well as magazine articles. But we do not write a book every year; we average a hook each every three years, Thatis au aggregate of 441 hooks in tbree years. Postage on each hook (as authors’ manuscript), an average of 20 cents. Now ohserve: Aggregate postage (letter rates) on three years’ magazine manuscripts $43,500; aggregate postage on three years’ hook manuscripts (authors’ manuscript rates), $88.20.” Kittise Anrs.—Fruit growers, gardeners, and, in short, men of every husiness, in some parts of this State, who have land enough for an ant-hill, are grievously afflicted with these pests. A Texas correspoudent of the Journal of Chemistry relates his experience and treatmeut as follows: ‘* We find flooding with water the most effectual means of destroying them, and too often the most impracticahle, for two reasons: First, hecause these creatures with the spent leaves and earth hank up their holes so as to ward off the water (if there should be a knoll iu the field it is sure to be an ant-town); secondly, hecause of the scarcity of water. We cut deep channels towards the ant-towns, so that when the rain comes it may run along these ruts and flood the auts, but it is frequently a lahorious and often au impossihle method. Our nurseries contain some Gt) acres, and on this space alone we aunually use $100 worth of cyanide of potassium as ant poison. We dissolve three or four lumps about the sizo of marbles in a gallon of water, and every moruing and evening pour three tahlespoonfuls of this mixture into tho varions washing holes, Tbe fumes kill all the ants that cross it for an hour or two; still it ouly keeps down their nuuthers, and never completely eradicates them.” <Any of our readers who wish to try the ‘lexas remedy must remember that cyanide of potassium is one of the most virulent poi. oo should he most carefully handled and used. Tasxine a LAMB SKIN Wit THE WooL on It.—Make a strong soapsuda, using hot water; when it is cold wash tho skin in it, carefully . squeezing it hetween tho hands to get the dirt out of the wool; then wash tho soap out with elean, cold water; next dissolve alum and salt, of each half a pound, in @ little hot water, which pnt into a tub of cold water sutlicient to eover the skin, and let it soak in it over unizht, or 12 hours; now hang the skin over a pole to drain; whea well drained spread or stretch carefully on a hoard to dry. It need not bo tacked down if drawn ont several times with tho haud while drying. Wheu yet a little damp, sprinkle pulverized saltpeter and alum {an ounce each mixed together) on the ‘flesh side, rubhing it in well. It is now to hang in iu the shade two or three days, the flesh side iu, until perfectly dry. When cutirely dry, scrape the flesh side with a hlunt knife to remove any seraps of flesb. Trim off all projecting points, and mh the flesh side with pumice or rotteu stene, aud with tho bands. Prepared in this way, it is white aud heautiful, snitable for a door mat, and also nice for the feet in a sleigh or wagon in cold weather. Buryixc GarraGe.—The process of cremation, says the American Architect, suggests a means to solve the serious question, what shall he done with the street refnse and garhage. An analysis of collections from 13 representative districts give the following average results: Water, 3.032%; nitrogen, 0.369%; combustible material, 28.4547, incombustihle material, 68.514%. Prof. Chandler, President of the Board of Health, suggests a system of garhage cremation in furnaces similar to those in the manufacture of shell-lime. It is said that 200 tons of refuse and garhage can he cremated aud rendered innocnous in24 hours, Snch a system would involve Iess cost than conveying it to deep water, and he far more consistent with the demands of civilizatiou and public safety. Goon Heattl. Rendering Salt Meat More Nutritious. Professor Rohert Galloway has puhlished a second edition of his pamphlet on a method for rendering salt meats more nutritious and therehy preventing scurvy. This, says Public Health, he helieves, is to he accomplished in a simple and natural manner. He points out that certain suhstances go to form or constitute ftesh; during the operation of salting the flesh some of these suhstances are removed and carried away in the hrine, the chief coustituent thus removed heing phosphate of potash. It is evident that if this salt was necessary for the formation of the fiesh in the first instance, its ahsence from it when salted cannot but he injurious. Professor Galloway therefore recommends that it should he used with salt meat either at or before the time of eating. He claims for his idea an analogy with the plan adopted by human heings in every qnarter of the glohe of eating common salt (chloride of sodium) with fresh food to make up the deficiency of soda salts required for the proper formation of the blood. Salted meat, argues Professor Galloway, is deficient in potash salts, and certain potash salts are required for the formation of the juice of the flesh; consequently phosphate of potash ought to be employed with salted meat as common salt is with fresh meat. The importance of phosphate of potash for nutrition, and indeed for vitality, has heen proved hy Pasteur and Mayer. In their investigations on the physiological study of fermentation, and the development of cellular orgauisms, they have shown that this salt is absolutely necessary, even for the development and nutritiou of the yeast cell. This heing so, what can be the effect of food delicient in phosphate of potash on man but malnutrition, or, in another word, disease? Some ohjectors have urged against Profossor Galloway's plan that although true in theory, it would not succeed in practice, because the phosphate of potash would not be assimilated. His reply—and a very sensihle one—is, it is sufficient to know that common salt is assimilated to believe that a like result would attend the use of phosphate of potash. Other ohjectors who have ohjected to his theory have deleared that it is the citric acid in potash which prevents ordinary food from producing scurvy. Professor Galloway’s answer is that the hlood and juice of the flesh can no more heformed out of food deficieut in one or more of the necessary constitueuts for thcir formation than bone can be formed without phosphate of lime. The beneficial effects of lime juice in the prevention of scurvy are, Professor Galloway thinks, due to the presence of the potash and phosphateit contains; but he admits that this view was doubted by the late Dr. Parkes, Itis certain, however, that neither Dr. Parkes nor any other medical man has yet explained the heneficial action of lime juice, and itis equally certain that its admiuistration is distasteful to many sailors. It certainly would he much the more rational and pleasant plan to take phosphate of potash with the food than to take, some honrs before or after, a dose of medicine having for its purpose the same object. Tne Warter’s CRamr.—A paper read hy M. Bonilland before a recent meeting of the French Academy of Sciences gives an account of his further researches relative to lesions of the hraiu. In his former communications he demonstrated that the loss of speech was due to a malady of the third circumvolution of the left anterior lohe of that organ. He now goes ‘further, and asserts that the three faculties which essentially distinguish man from other. animals—speech, reading and writing—are each controlled by separate portions of the brain. In his researches he discovered that the paralysis of one of those functions could exist without the others being aifected, and he gives as an example a case iu which he was called to a consultation on a young mau whose avocation compelled him to write continually. At first the patient had felt a slight weakness in writing, then a great dittivulty; and tiually, an ahsolute loss of the faculty. ‘The result of the elosest exaininatiou could not detect any defect iu the muscles of the arm or hand, the latter retaining all its sensitivencss nud power for every other purpose than that of wmting, and all his other functions heing normal aud in good eonditiou. The conclusion arrived at was that the source of the intirmity must not be sought for in the external organs, hut in the center itself of nervons action—the hrain. The young man was advised to learn to write with the leit haud, which he rapidly succeeded in doing, The defect from which he suffered had long been known as writer's cramp, just as the loss of speech was for centuries termed paralysis of the tangue. Both designat ons were equally erroneous, hoth heing now attrihuted to maladies of certain portions of the brain, Heap to Foor Wasuine.—At the recent Domestic Ecouomy Congress, held at Birminghan, Mr. Edwin Chadwick, C. B., said the effect of cleauliness was not sutfiviently recognized. He found evidcuces of its cflucts in varions ways. Dealing with the animal creation, he said the pig that was washed would pnt on one-fifth more flesh with the same amount of food than the pig that was unwashed. The same effect was ohservable in otber animals, They had seen the horse washed from head to foot to give it additional force. Thesame arguuent applied to the human creature, He knew the ease of an army hemmed in by the enemy and put npon half rations. They were regularly washed, and it was found after a time that the men who washed were equal in force to those who were unwashed and put upon full ratious. Head to foot washing was not onlyimportautiu the matter of economy in food, hut also for the prevention of contagions disease. Nurses who attended scarlatina cases and other cases of contagious disease had found out that, hy washing twice a day, and sometiines hy changing their clothes, they might withstand the dangers resulting from the practice, and doctors who were similarly engaged had come to the same conclusion. Asa defense against an outhreak of epidemic disease he would have the whole population tuhhed. He mentioned that in a prison containing 1,200 persons washiug was enforced, and instead of using 70 to SO gallons »f water for each hath, and causing a large expenditure of time, a very simple method was devised for giving the prisoners a thorongh good bath. Each ™man was placed in a recess, with a spray of tepid water overhead, which completely eleansed him, Schools at which unwashed children atteuded were centers of children’s epidemics. Tus Uses or rHe Lemon.—As a writer in the London Lancet remarks, few people know the value of lemon juice. A piece of lemon bound upon a corn will cnre it in a few days ; it shonld be renewed night and moruing, A freo nse of lemon juice and sugar will always relieve acough. Most people feel poorly in the spring; but if they would eat a lemon before breakfast every day for a week,—with or without sugar, as they like—thcy would find it better than any medicine. Lemon juice used according to this recipe will somotimes cure consumption:Put a dozen lemons into cold water aud slowly bring to a hoil; boil slowly until the lemons aro soft, but not too soft, then squccze nntil all the juice .is extracted; add sugar to your taste, and drink, In this way use one dozeu lemons a day. If they cause pain, or loosen the bowels too much, lessen the quantity and use only five or six a day until yon are better, and then begin again with a dozen a day. After using five or six dozen, the patient will hegin to gain flesh and enjoy food. Hold on to the lemons, and still usc them very freely several weells moro, Whroorine Coven.—It is some years siuce Letzerich affirmed that whooping cough was due to a special fungus. The assertion has heen lately confirmed hy the researches of Tschamor. In the spittlo of-children who are sufferiug from. the cough, there are little corpuscles, about the size of a pin’s head, of a white or yellowish color, which past through a serics of characteristic changes, and which scem to be identical with fungi which are fonnd on the peel of oranges, apples and some other fruits. By inoculating rabbits with these frnit fungi, and by causing men to inhale them, Tschamer produced convulsive coughs of many day’s duration, with all the characteristics of whooping cough,

September 22, 1877.} MINING AND SCIENTIFIC PRESS 188 Wild Rose District. A correspondent of the Coso Mining Neves, . writing from Wild Rose, Inyo county, says : “Having looked in vain over the columus of the Vers for some news or information regarding Wild Rose, that yonthful hud of the Panamint range of mountains, and having despaired of ever receiving the much-desired iuforuration, I concluded, in that event, that as Wild Rose undoubtedly would not come to me, I would necessarily have to go to Wild Rose, and here I havo been ever since. And it seems the longer a fellow tarries here the better be likes Wild Rose. But really, to be candid, it is not surjvining that such should he the case, when we take into consideration its beantifol and . picturesque location and its surroundings; situated as at is, ins beautiful and luxuriant valicy on the Panaminut range of monntains, 25 miles distant, almost in a Me line east from Lookout, and conueeted therewith hy a well graded aud appointed road in every particnlar; and from Vanamiut, in a hee line, ahout 12 or 14 miles, and lying at an elevation of 10,000 feet ahovo the sva level. ‘Iho climato is nuexceptionable; in the day tine tho thermometer ranges from 60 tu 70 degrees, ‘The uights aro very cool, so much so that you cau sleep delightfully wrapped np in two or more of tho heaviest double blaukets. It is a matter of much surprise to me that tbis delightful little country valley is not overrun with tonrists aud pleasure-scckers during the heated scason, and thus avoid the sweltermg and dehilitating weather so common outside of this favored Eden. The hills and canyons here are thickly wooded with beautiful trees of that class of wood commouly known as nut-pine, cedar and juniper. ‘The Intter tree is ve-y luxuriant iu its growth, aud serves as a very heautiful shade trec. Game is plentiful, hut of the smaller class, embracing the jack rabbit, quail, doves, etc., and, I may mention, an over-ahundance of coyotes and the wily fox, which fact necessitates rather elevated roosts in the poultry yards, of which there are uot a few. The fonnder of this romantic little town was James Honan, When Panamint died that natural death that I fear has no wakiug, Houan, Arah-like, folded his téeut and silently glided over the mountains aud in here. He suhsequeutly entered into a contract with the Modoc company to furnish them with all the wood they required fora definite time for the smelting of their ores. However, the greatest difficulty that he and this camp had to overcome was how to ohtain a good supply of fresh water. But this harrier was soon overcome by the pluck and indomitahle perseverance of Honan, combined with that all-powerful lever, “the almighty dollar.” Sp that we can hoast of as good a supply of as pure fresh water as there is in the connty. The hills and mountains hereahonts are, beyond question, rich in the precious metals, articularly in that of silver, although I have Ben shown rock taken from ledges here rather richly impregnated with gold, leading me to believe that the time is not far distant when there will he developments made here in the line of mines and mining that will cast into the shade any and all similar efforts made within this county. August Hoeltze, a Prussian by birth and an experienced and practical miner, who arrived here from Arizona hunt recently, which latter place he has heen a resident of for years, prospectiug and mining alternately, is now occupied rin workiug a ledge that he recently discovered, abvut two miles from here. He is in company with a party by the name of McDonald, also a miner of no mean caliher, I have heen shown some of the rock that they have taken out of the tuunel and shaft, which are only in ahout 20 feet as yet, and I have no hesitation iu stating that it looks well, if not actually rich, and, . suppose, would assay at least $500 per ton. Mr. ©. Wiser, a noted expert on anything and everything relative to mines and mining, has been speuding the summer here for the benefit of his health, at the earnest advice of his physiciau. He has devoted a cousiderable portion of his spare hours, and when his health would admit, to prospecting after the hidden treasnre; it is almost snpertiuons for me to add, with marked success, if not wonderful. He informs me that he has located and recorded no less than 23 well detined silver-beariug ledges, some of which, he assures me, are unsurpassed iurichness. Itis his iutention, as soon as his health will permit, to commence the workiug of oue or all of them. CLAIM FOR SMELTING OxEe.—M. Seligman has filed a complaintin the Fourth District Court agaiust tho Coso Consolidated miniug company to recover $6,430. It is alleged that within the past two years the Cuervo mining compauy has heen a legal corporatiou. At the request of the defeudant tho Cuervo company smelted and converted into bullion 479 tons of lead and silver ore, under an agrcement hy which the latter was to he paid $23 for each tou of ore smelted; payment to he made at the completion of 100 tons. ‘The 469 tons were smelted hy March, 1876, and the defendant became indebted $11,030 to the Cuervo company. Of} that amouut only $4,600 has been paid. Before the commencement of the suit the Cuervo company sold aud assigned the halance of the indebtedness to the plaintiff, who now brings action to recover. Usefue INpoRmaTion. Making a Well. There are some who find it convenient to mako a well in the old way, although the boring and piping upparatus is of more geueral use. To such a hint from an article written for Scribner's Monthly, hy Mr. S. W. Pinkhaw, will be of assistauce to preservo the water from imupuro drainage or surface flow: ‘‘Virst, of course, the well must he so constructed that it cannot act asa drain for the neighhoring soil. This cau he done hy making the wall ahove low-water mark of some material impervious to water, or by omitting this part of the wall altogether, The tirst can be accomplished hy having the wall from a pomt two or threo feet front the bottom made of brick with a coating of hydraulic cement on its exterior, or of hydraulie well-tuhing with the joinings well protected with cement; in either case the varth should he thoroughly packed aronnd the wall, and a slight emhankment should he made arouud tho orifice to prevent the iu-flow of surface or storm water, “In such a well the draining surface is so reduced, and placed at snch a distance helow the surface of the gronnd, that in tho great majority of imstauces the introduction of foreigu matter hecomes impossible, except in so far as there is a chance that snbstances will fall into the well from above. ‘lo prevent this the well should be kept covered when not in use. In most cases, howover, it is better to omit the upper part of the wall altogether. After the excavation is completed, the wall can he hnilt iu the usual manner for a distance of two or three feet, morc or less, as circumstances may demand; the service pipe can then be placed in position, and the wall arched over. The remaiuder of the excavation cau then be Hlled with earth, well packed as it is thrown in, and tho pipe carried to any convenient point. It will he necessary to place ahove tbe arch several layers of stones snccessively smaller to preos the falling of the earth into the spaco below. “The workmen will prohably suggest a layer of turf or straw to accomplish this object, hut the presence of either of these substances will cause the water to he unpleasant for a considerahle time, aud will prove the cause of much aunoyance, “There is a prevalent notion that a well shonld be ventilated for the purpose of allowing noxions gases to escape, and that water is hetter for heing exposed to the air. IJ hardly need state that the only noxious gases in a well (i. ¢., gases which render the water unwholesome) are the products of the decomposition of organic matter which has found its way into the well in ways which have heen descrihed ahove, and that water, as it flows in its suhterranean passages is more perfectly aerated than it can he in any other way.” Postal Law Shams. ~ A writer in the ‘Contributors’ Cluh” of the Atlantic Monthly, for September, exposes what he calls the sham of postal laws, which discriminate between authors’ manuscripts intended for publication in book form and those offered as contributions to newspapers and periodicals, illustrating the result as follows: ‘* We authors write about 25 magazine articles each a year, Postage (letter rates) average 40 cents on each article—ten dollars a year for each of us. There are $48 authors in the country who write for magazines. Most of our articles are not accepted, hut are returned tous. We pay postage just the same, though, both ways. Com sidering, for the sake of argument, that we use the mail and not the express, our postage on matter sent aggregates $8,450 a year; return postage on upwards of two-thirds of our work hurled back upon our hands, say $6,000. Aggregate for the year, $17,480. Agyregate for three years, say, in ronnd nuinhers, $43,500. Among us, in this country, there are 441 who write hooks as well as magazine articles. But we do not write a book every year; we average a hook each every three years, Thatis au aggregate of 441 hooks in tbree years. Postage on each hook (as authors’ manuscript), an average of 20 cents. Now ohserve: Aggregate postage (letter rates) on three years’ magazine manuscripts $43,500; aggregate postage on three years’ hook manuscripts (authors’ manuscript rates), $88.20.” Kittise Anrs.—Fruit growers, gardeners, and, in short, men of every husiness, in some parts of this State, who have land enough for an ant-hill, are grievously afflicted with these pests. A Texas correspoudent of the Journal of Chemistry relates his experience and treatmeut as follows: ‘* We find flooding with water the most effectual means of destroying them, and too often the most impracticahle, for two reasons: First, hecause these creatures with the spent leaves and earth hank up their holes so as to ward off the water (if there should be a knoll iu the field it is sure to be an ant-town); secondly, hecause of the scarcity of water. We cut deep channels towards the ant-towns, so that when the rain comes it may run along these ruts and flood the auts, but it is frequently a lahorious and often au impossihle method. Our nurseries contain some Gt) acres, and on this space alone we aunually use $100 worth of cyanide of potassium as ant poison. We dissolve three or four lumps about the sizo of marbles in a gallon of water, and every moruing and evening pour three tahlespoonfuls of this mixture into tho varions washing holes, Tbe fumes kill all the ants that cross it for an hour or two; still it ouly keeps down their nuuthers, and never completely eradicates them.” <Any of our readers who wish to try

the ‘lexas remedy must remember that cyanide of potassium is one of the most virulent poi. oo should he most carefully handled and used. Tasxine a LAMB SKIN Wit THE WooL on It.—Make a strong soapsuda, using hot water; when it is cold wash tho skin in it, carefully . squeezing it hetween tho hands to get the dirt out of the wool; then wash tho soap out with elean, cold water; next dissolve alum and salt, of each half a pound, in @ little hot water, which pnt into a tub of cold water sutlicient to eover the skin, and let it soak in it over unizht, or 12 hours; now hang the skin over a pole to drain; whea well drained spread or stretch carefully on a hoard to dry. It need not bo tacked down if drawn ont several times with tho haud while drying. Wheu yet a little damp, sprinkle pulverized saltpeter and alum {an ounce each mixed together) on the ‘flesh side, rubhing it in well. It is now to hang in iu the shade two or three days, the flesh side iu, until perfectly dry. When cutirely dry, scrape the flesh side with a hlunt knife to remove any seraps of flesb. Trim off all projecting points, and mh the flesh side with pumice or rotteu stene, aud with tho bands. Prepared in this way, it is white aud heautiful, snitable for a door mat, and also nice for the feet in a sleigh or wagon in cold weather. Buryixc GarraGe.—The process of cremation, says the American Architect, suggests a means to solve the serious question, what shall he done with the street refnse and garhage. An analysis of collections from 13 representative districts give the following average results: Water, 3.032%; nitrogen, 0.369%; combustible material, 28.4547, incombustihle material, 68.514%. Prof. Chandler, President of the Board of Health, suggests a system of garhage cremation in furnaces similar to those in the manufacture of shell-lime. It is said that 200 tons of refuse and garhage can he cremated aud rendered innocnous in24 hours, Snch a system would involve Iess cost than conveying it to deep water, and he far more consistent with the demands of civilizatiou and public safety. Goon Heattl. Rendering Salt Meat More Nutritious. Professor Rohert Galloway has puhlished a second edition of his pamphlet on a method for rendering salt meats more nutritious and therehy preventing scurvy. This, says Public Health, he helieves, is to he accomplished in a simple and natural manner. He points out that certain suhstances go to form or constitute ftesh; during the operation of salting the flesh some of these suhstances are removed and carried away in the hrine, the chief coustituent thus removed heing phosphate of potash. It is evident that if this salt was necessary for the formation of the fiesh in the first instance, its ahsence from it when salted cannot but he injurious. Professor Galloway therefore recommends that it should he used with salt meat either at or before the time of eating. He claims for his idea an analogy with the plan adopted by human heings in every qnarter of the glohe of eating common salt (chloride of sodium) with fresh food to make up the deficiency of soda salts required for the proper formation of the blood. Salted meat, argues Professor Galloway, is deficient in potash salts, and certain potash salts are required for the formation of the juice of the flesh; consequently phosphate of potash ought to be employed with salted meat as common salt is with fresh meat. The importance of phosphate of potash for nutrition, and indeed for vitality, has heen proved hy Pasteur and Mayer. In their investigations on the physiological study of fermentation, and the development of cellular orgauisms, they have shown that this salt is absolutely necessary, even for the development and nutritiou of the yeast cell. This heing so, what can be the effect of food delicient in phosphate of potash on man but malnutrition, or, in another word, disease? Some ohjectors have urged against Profossor Galloway's plan that although true in theory, it would not succeed in practice, because the phosphate of potash would not be assimilated. His reply—and a very sensihle one—is, it is sufficient to know that common salt is assimilated to believe that a like result would attend the use of phosphate of potash. Other ohjectors who have ohjected to his theory have deleared that it is the citric acid in potash which prevents ordinary food from producing scurvy. Professor Galloway’s answer is that the hlood and juice of the flesh can no more heformed out of food deficieut in one or more of the necessary constitueuts for thcir formation than bone can be formed without phosphate of lime. The beneficial effects of lime juice in the prevention of scurvy are, Professor Galloway thinks, due to the presence of the potash and phosphateit contains; but he admits that this view was doubted by the late Dr. Parkes, Itis certain, however, that neither Dr. Parkes nor any other medical man has yet explained the heneficial action of lime juice, and itis equally certain that its admiuistration is distasteful to many sailors. It certainly would he much the more rational and pleasant plan to take phosphate of potash with the food than to take, some honrs before or after, a dose of medicine having for its purpose the same object. Tne Warter’s CRamr.—A paper read hy M. Bonilland before a recent meeting of the French Academy of Sciences gives an account of his further researches relative to lesions of the hraiu. In his former communications he demonstrated that the loss of speech was due to a malady of the third circumvolution of the left anterior lohe of that organ. He now goes ‘further, and asserts that the three faculties which essentially distinguish man from other. animals—speech, reading and writing—are each controlled by separate portions of the brain. In his researches he discovered that the paralysis of one of those functions could exist without the others being aifected, and he gives as an example a case iu which he was called to a consultation on a young mau whose avocation compelled him to write continually. At first the patient had felt a slight weakness in writing, then a great dittivulty; and tiually, an ahsolute loss of the faculty. ‘The result of the elosest exaininatiou could not detect any defect iu the muscles of the arm or hand, the latter retaining all its sensitivencss nud power for every other purpose than that of wmting, and all his other functions heing normal aud in good eonditiou. The conclusion arrived at was that the source of the intirmity must not be sought for in the external organs, hut in the center itself of nervons action—the hrain. The young man was advised to learn to write with the leit haud, which he rapidly succeeded in doing, The defect from which he suffered had long been known as writer's cramp, just as the loss of speech was for centuries termed paralysis of the tangue. Both designat ons were equally erroneous, hoth heing now attrihuted to maladies of certain portions of the brain, Heap to Foor Wasuine.—At the recent Domestic Ecouomy Congress, held at Birminghan, Mr. Edwin Chadwick, C. B., said the effect of cleauliness was not sutfiviently recognized. He found evidcuces of its cflucts in varions ways. Dealing with the animal creation, he said the pig that was washed would pnt on one-fifth more flesh with the same amount of food than the pig that was unwashed. The same effect was ohservable in otber animals, They had seen the horse washed from head to foot to give it additional force. Thesame arguuent applied to the human creature, He knew the ease of an army hemmed in by the enemy and put npon half rations. They were regularly washed, and it was found after a time that the men who washed were equal in force to those who were unwashed and put upon full ratious. Head to foot washing was not onlyimportautiu the matter of economy in food, hut also for the prevention of contagions disease. Nurses who attended scarlatina cases and other cases of contagious disease had found out that, hy washing twice a day, and sometiines hy changing their clothes, they might withstand the dangers resulting from the practice, and doctors who were similarly engaged had come to the same conclusion. Asa defense against an outhreak of epidemic disease he would have the whole population tuhhed. He mentioned that in a prison containing 1,200 persons washiug was enforced, and instead of using 70 to SO gallons »f water for each hath, and causing a large expenditure of time, a very simple method was devised for giving the prisoners a thorongh good bath. Each ™man was placed in a recess, with a spray of tepid water overhead, which completely eleansed him, Schools at which unwashed children atteuded were centers of children’s epidemics. Tus Uses or rHe Lemon.—As a writer in the London Lancet remarks, few people know the value of lemon juice. A piece of lemon bound upon a corn will cnre it in a few days ; it shonld be renewed night and moruing, A freo nse of lemon juice and sugar will always relieve acough. Most people feel poorly in the spring; but if they would eat a lemon before breakfast every day for a week,—with or without sugar, as they like—thcy would find it better than any medicine. Lemon juice used according to this recipe will somotimes cure consumption:Put a dozen lemons into cold water aud slowly bring to a hoil; boil slowly until the lemons aro soft, but not too soft, then squccze nntil all the juice .is extracted; add sugar to your taste, and drink, In this way use one dozeu lemons a day. If they cause pain, or loosen the bowels too much, lessen the quantity and use only five or six a day until yon are better, and then begin again with a dozen a day. After using five or six dozen, the patient will hegin to gain flesh and enjoy food. Hold on to the lemons, and still usc them very freely several weells moro, Whroorine Coven.—It is some years siuce Letzerich affirmed that whooping cough was due to a special fungus. The assertion has heen lately confirmed hy the researches of Tschamor. In the spittlo of-children who are sufferiug from. the cough, there are little corpuscles, about the size of a pin’s head, of a white or yellowish color, which past through a serics of characteristic changes, and which scem to be identical with fungi which are fonnd on the peel of oranges, apples and some other fruits. By inoculating rabbits with these frnit fungi, and by causing men to inhale them, Tschamer produced convulsive coughs of many day’s duration, with all the characteristics of whooping cough,