TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 51 
bituminous coals under the above-described conditions should not include mechanical 
pressure, which is no greater than often exists in ordinary cases. 
__ It seems probable that the presence of an atmosphere of nearly permanent gases in 
the decomposing vessel, and the regular continuous flow of them from the coal, pre- 
vent the formation of heavy vapours at the instant of change in the coal. In support 
of this point, we find the temperature necessary to convert coal into gas without the 
presence of heavy hydrocarbons much less high than when they are produced. 
_ We may therefore observe the decomposition of coal without the simultaneous 
formation of tar, and beds of coal may be converted under existing natural conditions 
to anthracite without secondary products being formed. 
, On a new Method of administering Chloroform. 
By M. ie Baron Heurrerour. (Communicated by M. t’Assi Motcno.) 
This method consists in projecting the chloroform by means of a simple apparatus 
composed of a small pair of bellows, to which is adjusted a sort of glass syringe. ‘The 
latter is a small hollow glass tube having a cork at each end; at the further extremity 
is fixed a metallic tube of a conical shape terminating in a point, through the other 
cork passes another metallic tube communicating with the bellows by means of an 
india-rubber tube. A given quantity of chloroform is introduced into the syringe on 
a piece of gauze ; a slight movement of the bellows drives out the chloroform against 
the mouth and nose of the patient. In this manner the author can regulate the in- 
halation of the chloroform, and, moreover, the persons present are not so much affected 
by its vapours as when it is administered in the ordinary manner. 
On illuminating Peat Gas. By R.L. Jounson. 
The author stated that it is now nearly half a century since a Parliamentary Com= 
mittee appointed by Government to report on Irish peat named the town of Sligo and 
the Hill of Howth as the extreme points of a straight line, and Galway and Wicklow 
Head as the extreme points of another straight line, between which two right lines lay 
the six-sevenths of all the peat in Ireland, the remaining one-seventh being distri- 
buted throughout localities on either side of these lines. Having named the different 
localities where peat is distributed, the total quantity of which in superficial acres 
appears to be three millions, Mr. Johnson entered into a detailed description of the 
mode by which he obtained illuminating gas from common peat or turf, which he pro- 
duced by the double decomposition of the constituents of the peat. He stated that 
works for the production of the gas have been recently erected and are in actual opera- 
tion in two secs in Ireland. In the Queen’s County and County Westmeath, the 
gas produced was good, and its cost, as stated to him by a gentleman who was using 
_ it, less than 2s. the thousand cubic feet. He stated that from one single pound weight 
_ of common peat an hour’s light may be produced, that its cost being so very small 
it should ultimately be extensively used throughout Ireland, and that in all peat 
_ countries also in its production there was a residual of charcoal equal to one-third of 
_ the peat employed. 
- Notice of Researches on the Assimilation of Nitrogen by Plants. 
By Messrs. Lawes, GILBERT, and Pucu. 
~ Whether or not plants can assimilate the free nitrogen of the atmosphere, is in a 
purely scientific point of view, a question of high interest; and, if answered in the 
affirmative, will add a striking fact to the history both of nitrogen itself, and of the 
vegetative functions. A true theory of many agricultural facts and practices requires 
a definitive solution of this debated point. ‘The earlier writers supposed that the free 
nitrogen of the air could be taken up by plants. De Saussure and others came to an 
; te conclusion ; and this latter view has been pretty generally adopted by scientific 
oO 
servers. M, Boussingault in particular, adduced experimental evidence to show, 
that plants do not assimilate the free nitrogen of the air. But, during the last few 
years, an extensive and elaborate series of investigations has been made by Mons. G, 
ille of Paris, the results of which led him to conclude, that plants sometimes assimi- 
late a considerable amount of free nitrogen. M. Boussingault has followed up the 
E inquiry in various ways, and still maintains the opposite opinion, It is hence highly 
a” 4% 
