vi Proceedings. \Novcinbcr 2-jth, igoo. 



Ordinary Meeting, November 27th, 1900. 

 J. J- AsHWORTH, Treasurer, in the Chair. 



The thanks of the members were voted to tlie donors of the 

 books upon the table. 



Mr. F. J. Faraday referred to the poj)ular belief of a relation 

 between the changes of the moon and the changes of the 

 weather. As illustrating the continued prevalence of the belief 

 in question, he quoted a passage from the cotton circular 

 of Messrs. Hubbard Bros. & Co., of New York, dated 

 October 30th, 1900, in which they say : '' The trade watches 

 for the time of full moon as the period most likely to bring 

 colder weather, and therefore feels that we are apt to have 

 a cold wave by November 6 to 8." It was a curious fact that 

 November 8 was the date on which the first really cold weather 

 was experienced on both sides of the Atlantic, and on which the 

 first " killing " frost in the cotton belt of the Southern States of 

 the Union occurred. 



Some discussion followed. 



Reference was made by Mr. W. H. Johnson to the recent 

 occurrence of numerous cases of arsenical poisoning among beer- 

 drinkers in this neighbourhood, and some discussion took i)lace 

 as to the source of the poison. Mr. Taylor stated that though 

 "commercial" sulphuric acid, manufactured from pyrites, is 

 certainly cheaper than that prepared from Sicilian sulphur, the 

 difference of price is quite trifling when considered in relation to 

 the whole cost of brewing, since the amount used is small. 



Dr. G. Wilson mentioned a remarkable feature in connection 

 with the bursting of gauge-glasses on the experimental engines 

 in the laboratory of the Owens College. He had not personally 

 verified it, but had been informed by one of the firemen that the 

 final collapse of the tube is preceded by the appearance of a crack 

 of two or three inches in length down the side of the tube. 

 Steam may be seen to issue from this crack sufficiently long 

 before the tube finally bursts to allow of turning off" steam in the 

 interval, and thus reducing the danger and inconvenience arising 



