VIII. Examination and Analysis of the Berg-Meal, or Mineral Flour, found in the Parish of Degersfors, in the Province of West Bothnia, on the confines of Swedish Lapland

Extract

In 1832 or 1833, a peasant, in felling a tree in the forest about forty miles above Degersfors, laid bare a substance strongly resembling meal, which, tempted by its appearance, he baked with a mixture of rye-flour, and used as bread. “All the world,” says Mr Laing, “of this and the next parish, flocked to the spot to take their part of this extraordinary blessing of meal, produced in the earth at a time when they were reduced to bark bread. The functionaries of the district at last heard of it, and gave orders that it should not be used until they had ascertained that it was safe. Some of it was sent to Stockholm to be analyzed.” Mr Laing has stated, in his Tour, that it was said to consist chiefly of finely pulverised flint and felspar, with a residuum of organised matter; but the proportions, or the regular analysis, he could not learn.