Annual Report of the Council. xxxi 



His paper on this subject, written in collaboration with 

 Mr. Frederick Howies, created great interest when read to the 

 Society in March, igoo. It was entitled, "On the Production 

 of Nitric Acid from air by means of the Electnc Flame," and 

 was undoubtedly the pioneer paper of a process which has since 

 been worked successfully in many parts of the world. The 

 paper is well worth perusal. The following extract will give 

 some idea cf the results obtained: — " By decreasing the liigh- 

 tension current, so that only o'i5 ampere was used to feed the 

 flame, 55 grms. of nitric acid were produced in an experiment 

 extending over 9I hours. This is equivalent to 300 grms. per 

 horse-power per 12 hours, showing an increase over the quantities 

 produced in all former experiments . . . and represents 51-5 per 

 cent, of the amount theoretically obtamable from the amount of 

 air passed in." 



Mr. McDougall was veiy ])roud of his long connection with 

 the Society. In a letter to the writer, dated January loth, 1910, 

 he says: — " My connection with the Society commenced when 

 I was only 10 years of age. I had the run of Dr. Angus Smith's 

 laboratory from about 1855 to 1859. About 1855 Dr. Smith 

 began an investigation on the air of towns, and the Society's 

 rooms being nearly in the centre of the town were used for 

 the investigation, so that in a kind of way I have had a connec- 

 tion of a sort for over 50 years, and am familiar with all the 

 recent career of the Society, of which I became a member as 

 soon as ever I attained my majority. My father was also a 

 member from 1844 and a fairly regular attender." 



From 1903 to 19 10 Mr. McDougall was Treasurer to the 

 Society and vvas most careful and assiduous in carrying out the 

 duties of his office till ill-health compelled his resignation. 



Mr. McDougall's quiet manner and retiring disposition 

 served to keep him somewhat in the background, but to those 

 who knew him well his memory will long be cherished. His 

 departure is greatly deplored by a large circle of friends. 



F. J. 



