Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Chemistry, Putrefaction, Anti-Scientism, Gender

    Expresses disgust at a report in the Morning Post of a lecture by Lyon Playfair in which the chemist claimed that fragrances are made from such disagreeable substances as 'the offal of the streets'. The author is even more shocked by Playfair's claim that plants and food develop from the remains of 'a past generation' of animal 'ancestors' and wishes 'such unpleasant secrets [...] had never been discovered'.