1855.] of Chemistry to the Preservation of Food. 79 



separated from its fibre. It will keep, when dry, for an unlimited 

 period. The Council-Medal, at the Great Exhibition of 1851, was 

 awarded to the meat-biscuit of Gail Borden. " Ten pounds of this 

 substance, with a proper allowance of water, afford, both in bulk 

 and nutriment, food sufficient to support the physical and mental 

 powers of a healthy working man for a month."* 



A specimen of this meat-biscuit was exhibited, as was also a 

 meat-cake prepared by M. Pouteau, of Bucharest, from flour and 

 the soluble constituents of beef. Each cake affords three good 

 meals, weighs 7i ounces, divided into three rations of 2^ ounces 

 each.f 



The combinations of Chocolate with milk paste or solidified milk, 

 respectively prepared by Messrs. Moore and Fadeuilhe, may be 

 regarded as an important supplement to this class of preserved 

 provisions. To these Dr. Bence Jones has made a valuable addi- 

 tion by his Extract of Tea. This extract, a specimen of which, 

 prepared in the laboratory of the Institution, was exhibited, is made 

 by evaporating a strong infusion of tea to dryness in a water-bath. 

 If intended for ready use in travelling, it should be well mixed 

 with twenty times its weight of sugar : a tea-spoonful of this pre- 

 paration is sufficient to make a cup of tea. J 



[J. B.] 



* Reports of the Juries, p. 65. 



t O'Brien's Danubian Provinces, 2nd Edition. 



X In his " Report to the Hudson's Bay Company," Dr. Rae refers to one of 

 the islands, discovered in the expedition which he relates, having been named 

 Bence Jones, *' after the distinguished medical man and analytical chemist 

 of that name, to whose kindness I and my party were much indebted for 

 having proposed the use and prepared some extract of tea for the expedition." 

 — Household Words^ February 1855, p. 18. 



Mr. Faraday brought before the Members a specimen of rolled 

 and laminated Aluminium from Dr. Percy. It had been prepared 

 by Mr. A. Dick, and was obtained by the direct action of sodium 

 on cryolite, — which being a fluoride of aluminium and sodium is by 

 more sodium resolved into aluminium and fluoride of sodium. 



Vol. II. 



