Proceedings of the Society of Arts. 415 



Tympan, and Frisket, is performed by the same operation as rolling in 

 and rolling out the types in the common printing press. By Mr John 

 Napier, printers' lead-caster, 13 West Nicolson Sreet, Edinburgh. A 

 Working Model of the Press was exhibited. Referred to a Committee. 

 (761.) 



3. Notice of the completion of the Printing of tlie Bible in Relief for 

 the use of the Blind. By John Alston, Esq. of Rosemount, Honorary 

 Treasurer to the Asylum for the Blind at Glasgow, Hon. M. S. A. (771.) 

 Thanks voted. 



4. Donation — On the Strength and other Properties of Cast-Iron ob- 

 tained from the Hot and Cold Blast. By William Fairbaim, Esq. en- 

 gineer, Manchester, Hon. M.S. A. (London, 1838.) Presented by the Author. 

 (772.) Thanks voted. 



5. Donation — Remarks on Canal Navigation, illustrative of the ad- 

 vantages of the Use of Steam as a Moving Power on Canals ; with an Ap- 

 pendix of Experiments, Plans, Descriptions, &c. (London, 1831.) By the 

 same. Presented by the Author. (773.) Thanks voted. 



C. Donation — Experimental Researches on the Strength of Pillars of 

 Cast-Iron, and other materials. By Eaton Hodgkinson, Esq. Manchester. 

 Hon. M.S. A. (London, 1840.) Presented by the Author. (774.) Thanks 

 voted. 



The following Candidates were admitted as Ordinary Mem- 

 bers, viz.: — 



1. John Maitland, Esq. accountant, 27 Charlotte Square. 



2. Robert Lindsay, Esq. chemist, 11 Elm Row. 



3. James Lindsay, Esq. W.S., 39 London Street. 



8Mi^^6nmryl841.— Andrew Fyfe,M.D.,F.R.S.E., President, 

 in the chair. The following communications were made, viz. : — 



1. On the Evaporative Power of different kinds of Coal. By Andrew 

 Fyfe, M.D., President S. A. (775.) 



During the reading of which paper, the chair v/as filled by James 

 L'Amy, Esq., Vice-President. 



After some general observations on the opinions entertained regarding 

 the power of different inflammables for affording heat, Dr Fyfe alluded 

 more particularly to the experiments of Dcspretz, by which it is she\>Ti that 

 the heat evolved during combustion is in proportion to the quantity of oxy- 

 gen taken up, and from which it is inferred that 1 lb. of pure carbon will 

 boil off 12^ of water from temperature 32°, while hydrogen will boil oflf 

 37 lb. As these substances are the only inflammable ingredients in coal, we 

 have, according to Despretz, a method of finding the amount of heat which 

 a fuel will give out by combustion, provided we know the composition. 

 Dr F. then alluded to the different methods proposed for ascertaining these, 

 but at the same time stated, that as there is always a loss of heat in fur- 



