I860.] to the Efficiency and Welfare of Military Forces. 251 



more efficient portable filter is now, however, prepared of carbon in 

 a porous condition, which not only has the property of retaining 

 the mechanical impurities of water, in its passage through it, but also 

 will purify it to a very considerable extent from injurious organic 

 matters and gases which it may contain. 



One of the most important improvements which have yet been effected 

 in the purification of water, and one which has already received import- 

 ant application in connection with the military service, is presented in 

 the apparatus contrived by Dr. Normandy for the preparation of whole- 

 some and pleasant water from sea or other water unfit for consumption. 

 The apparatus consists, in the first instance, of a great improvement 

 on the condensing arrangement contrived by Sir T. Grant, which has 

 been for some time used in the navy. The heat abstracted from the 

 steam first consumed is applied to the distillation of a second similar 

 quantity of water, and the arrangement employed for condensing this 

 second product is of such a nature as to ensure a very gradual but 

 continuous replacement of the condensing water. In this manner the 

 latter becomes sufficiently heated, before it passes out of the apparatus, 

 to part with the gases which it contains in solution, and which are 

 made to pass into the distilling apparatus and mix with the steam. 

 The condensed product is thus thoroughly aerated ; it is then, finally, 

 made to pass through a charcoal filter, which completely deprives it of 

 the disagreeable empyreumatic flavour always possessed by distilled 

 water. Independently of the applications which this apparatus is 

 receiving to the supply of ships with water, it has proved very valuable 

 in readily and continuously producing large quantities of wholesome 

 water for the supply of troops at stations where the only water pro- 

 curable was unfit for consumption. 



The important subject of the economical supply of well-cooked 

 and palatable food to troops in barracks and on active service, which 

 had been considerably neglected previous to the late war, has received 

 great attention on the part of Captain Grant, and the results of his 

 labours in this direction have been the production of most efficient 

 cooking- ranges for barracks, and equipments for cooking in the field. 

 By the employment of the range, with oven attached, which has been 

 contrived by him, and is used at Aldershot, Woolwich, and other 

 military stations, the cost of cooking for a large number of troops 

 (800 to 1000 being supplied with food from one range) has been 

 reduced to one halfpenny per man per week; and by further improve- 

 ments, which Captain Grant is just carrying out, it will still be 

 subject to considerable reduction. The food is, at the same time, 

 cooked in various ways by means of the oven and other appli- 

 ances. An arrangement has been devised by Captain Grant, and 

 used by troops with great success, for cooking in the field, in long 

 cylindrical boilers, which are so disposed over trenches dug for the 

 purpose that, with a very small consumption of fuel, well-cooked 

 food may be supplied from eight of them, in between two and three 

 hours, sufficient for 800 men. These kettles are of such a form that 



