84 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERT. 



COOKING BY GAS. 



Some interesting experiments have recently been made in London, 

 tinder the supervision of M. Soyer, to determine the question on the 

 merits and economy of roasting by gas. The results of the first trial, 

 which took place on the eighth inst., was, that 36 legs of mutton, weigh- 

 ing 288 Ibs., were roasted at a cost of Is. 2d. In order to arrive at 

 more positive results in regard to its economy, a second trial was 

 deemed requisite, which took place on the llth inst., when equal 

 weights of mutton were cooked 23 joints, weighing 184 Ibs., were 

 roasted by gas at a cost of 10d, with gas supplied at four shillings per 

 thousand feet ; when cooked, the above weight of meat was found to 

 weigh 146 Ibs.; dripping, 19 Ibs.; of gravy or ozmazome, 2f Ibs., 

 thus showing the actual loss to be 8| Ibs. Twenty-three joints of mut- 

 ton, weighing 184 Ibs., were cooked in the usual way, namely, in one 

 of Count llumford's ovens, hitherto considered the most economical 

 way of roasting. When taken out they were found to weigh 132 Ibs. ; 

 dripping, 18 Ibs. ; gravy none; thus showing a loss of 34 Ibs. The 

 coke consumed by the oven weighing 102 Ibs., coals 30 Ibs., thus prov- 

 ing the great economy of gas over the oven by a saving of 13 Ibs. of 

 meat, 1 Ib. of dripping, and 2| Ibs. of gravy, the value of which saving 

 is as follows : Meat, at 6d. per Ib., 6s. 6d. ; dripping, at 5d. per Ib., 

 5d. ; and gravy, at Is. 6d. per Ib., 4s. l|d., making a total of 11s. 0^-d. 



DUPLEX SAFETY REIX. 



A striking and valuable improvement in bridle reins, was exhibited 

 at the New York Crystal Palace, by W. A. Holwell, of Canada, de- 

 signed either for riding or driving. He calls it the " Duplex Safety 

 Rein." Ordinarily, there are two reins to every bridle, one of which 

 connects with a curb, and the other with a snaffle. This improvement 

 proposes to dispense with one of these altogether. A single leather 

 rein is attached to the curb-bit. A short elastic connecting piece, or 

 false rein, is attached at one end to the main rein, and at the other to 

 the ring of the snaffle-bit. With this arrangement, so long as the horse 

 moves gently, the driver or rider bears on the connecting piece only, 

 and through it upon the snaffle-bit. If the horse is restive or hard- 

 mouthed, his resistance stretches the connecting piece until the pres- 

 sure is thrown upon the main rein, and through it upon the curb or 

 stiff bit, thus bringing its lever power into play. The moment the 

 animal becomes tractable again, the elastic piece contracts and trans- 

 fers the natural pressure of the horse's mouth to the snaffle bit, the 

 lever bit becoming instantly relaxed. The material used by Mr. Hol- 

 well, for his model, is a gum-elastic tube with a metallic hook at one 

 end, to attach it to the snaffle or cheek-ring, and a little button at the 

 other, for whose reception holes are punched along the main rein. 

 The advantages proposed by this promising though simple invention, 

 are a more natural, self relying movement on the part of the horse, 



