204 Proceedings of the British Association for [Sept. 



supposed to be arranged in lines, as in the mode represented 

 by Dal ton, which was objected to by the latter, as being a 

 tottering equilibrium. 



Mr. Babbage recommended the publication of tables, re- 

 presenting the composition of substances by symbols,"^ with 

 the addition of the different weights which have been 

 brought forward, but without giving the sanction of the 

 Association to them. He considered it proper that the 

 algebraical formulse should be adhered to as far as possible. 



19. Mr. Mallet shewed a beautiful white material prepared 

 from turf, which was declared by a paper-maker to be per- 

 fectly fitted for the manufacture of paper. The upper 

 stratum of turf, which covers immense tracts in Ireland, 

 consists of layers. It is acted on by water to separate the 

 leaves; then by caustic potash or soda; then by an acid. 

 It is then bleached by chloride of lime. During the process 

 a substance is obtained possessing the odour of camphor, 

 mixed with that of turpentine, which is fluid at 290° F. 

 The upper stratum of turf may also be employed for mill 

 boards, after being soaked in glue and pressed by a hydrau- 

 lic press. 



Friday, lAtli August. — 20. Mr. Davy described some ex- 

 periments which he had made in reference to the relative 

 values of Virginian and Irish tobacco. He procured nicotine 

 by simply digesting the leaves in potash, and then distilling. 

 A liquid possessing uniforiA qualities passed over. The 

 liquid is acted on by acids, affording salts possessing a 

 sharp biting taste. The effect of the liquid was tried upon 

 different animals, and found to be highly narcotic. He 

 found that 1 lb. of Virginian tobacco was equivalent to 2 J 

 of Irish tobacco ; the root containing 4 or 5 per cent, of 

 nicotine. The usual estimate of the relative values, by 

 dealers, is as 1 to 2. 



21. Mr. Scanlan detailed the experiments which he had 

 made upon what he considered a new fluid, prepared from 



* Berzelius is erroneously considered to Lave first introduced the use of letters 

 to express briefly the composition of bodies. Dr. Thomson adopted this method 

 in one of the earliest editions of his System of Chemistry, where he classified 

 minerals according to their chemical composition. In his paper on Oxalic 

 Acid, published in the Philosophical Transactions for 1807, he employs formulas 

 of this kind. Berzelius indeed, has owned, that he borrowed the idea from 

 Dr. Thomson. 



