200 [January. 



inductive magnetism to the iron shell of a steam boiler by suspending 

 within it a number of hardened steel permanent magnets. This has 

 been found to effect the removal of sedimentary scale formed from 

 the earthy salts held by the water, and to prevent the farther deposit 

 of crystalline scale, .so that boilers using water highly charged with 

 calcareous matters are cleansed from adhering scale in a few weeks 

 and kept clean. 



Attention was called to the extraordinary High state of the 

 barometer during the intensely cold weather of the 7th and 

 8th insts,, viz., 31J to SIJ inches. 



Prof. Lesley was elected Librarian for the ensuing year. 



The Standing Committees were then appointed as follows : 



Finance. — Mr. Fraley, Mr. J. F. James, Mr. Marsh. 



Publication. — T. P. James, Mr. Trego, Mr. Carson, Mr. 

 Price, Mr. Fraley. 



Hall—Uv. Peale, Mr. P. E. Chase, Mr. S. W. Roberts. 



Library. — Dr. Bell, Dr. Coates, Mr. Price, Mr. Barnes, 

 Mr. Briggs. 



The list of surviving members was read. The number of 

 members on the 1st January was 408, of whom 259 were 

 resident in the United States, and 149 in foreign countries. 



The Society proceeded to ballot for candidates for mem- 

 bership. Nomination No. 541 was postponed on account of 

 the absence of members signing the recommendation. Pend- 

 ing nomination No. 547 and new nomination No. 548 were 

 read. 



Mr. Fraley offered the follow^ing resolution: That the 

 Treasurer be and he is hereby authorized to have five hundred 

 copies of the Laws of the Society printed in pamphlet form 

 for the use of the members, and that on the election of any 

 person as a resident member of the Society, a copy of the 

 laws shall be sent to him with the notice of his election. 



The ballot-boxes were opened and the following named 

 gentlemen declared to be duly elected members : 

 Mr. Thomas S. Blair, of Pittsburg, Pa. 

 Prof. E. D. Cope, of Haverford College, Pa. 

 Prof. Horatio C. Wood, University of Penna. 

 Mr. George Davidson, of the U. S. Coast Survey. 



