
eee 
Satie 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 125 
lighting of the gas in the rooms of a cotton-mill, makes a difference of several horse 
power in the duty of the engine of an extensive establishment. 
The oil test consists, as will be seen, of a plate of iron 4 inches wide by 6 feet 
long, on the upper surface of which six equal-sized grooves are planed. This plate 
is placed in an inclining position, say 1 inch in 6 feet. The mode of using it is as 
follows :—Suppose we have six varieties of oil to test, and we are desirous to know 
which of them will for the longest time retain its fluidity when in contact with iron 
and exposed to the action of the air; all we have to do is to pour out simultaneously 
at the upper end of each inclined groove an equal quantity of each of the oils under 
examination. This is very conveniently and correctly done by means of a row of 
small brass tubes. The six oils then make a fair start on their race down hill; some 
get ahead the first day, and some keep ahead the second and third day, but on the 
fourth or fifth day the truth begins to come out; the bad oils, whatever good pro- 
gress they may have made at the outset, come soon to a stand-still by their gradual 
coagulation, while the good oil holds on its course, and at the end of eight or ten 
days there is no doubt left as to which is the best; it speaks for itself, having 
distanced its competitors by a long way. Linseed oil, which makes capital progress 
the first day, is set fast after having travelled 18 inches, while second-class sperm 
beats first-class or refined (?) sperm by 14 inches in nine days,. having traversed in 
that time 5 feet 8 inches down the hill. The annexed table will show the state of 
the oil race after a nine days’ run. 
Results of Oil Test. 




Description of oil. First |Second| Third |Fourth| Fifth Sixth |Seventh| Eighth Ninth 











day. | day. | day. | day. | day. day. day. day. day. 
ft. in.|ft. in.j/ft. in.j/ft, in.|ft. in.| ft. in. | ft. in.| ft. in. ft. in. 
Best sperm oil .../2 83/4 2/4 53/4 6/4 6| 4 6 |4 62 'Stationary. 
Common sperm oil] 7 8 9 |4 63/411 |5 13) 5 4 |5 68} 5 723) 5 8 
Galipoli oil......... 1035/1 231 6 jl 63/1 78; 1 83)1 1 93} 1 9% 
Lard oil ............ 102} 103} 103} 103} 113/Stationary. 
Rape Oil ........+... 1 231 63/1 741 731 73) 1 73/)1 73) 1 7S, |Stationary, 
Linseed oil......... 1 53/1 61 63/1 641 63; 1 G624]1 6% |Stationary. 




Mr. Nasmyth feels satisfied that this mode of testing the qualities of oil intended 
for the lubrication of machinery will give out much useful information, and there- 
fore trusts it will meet with attention. 
On Gordon’s Plan of Ventilating Coal Mines. By Won. Nicuotson. 
The essential principle adopted in this plan is to cover over the upcast shaft, and 
to conduct the foul air in it to a chimney rising above the surface of the ground, and 
having one or more furnaces at its base. In particular cases it is recommended to 
close also the top of the downcast for a short time at night, so as to compel an 
exhaustion of foul air from the recesses of the works. The author regards the posi- 
tion of the furnace which he has chosen, at the surface, as superior on many accounts, 
to that commonly in use at the base of the upcast shaft. 
[Complete drawings accompanied this communication, and explanations in detail 
of several points which would not be understood without diagrams.] 
On a Water Meter. By W. ParKINsoN. 
A cheap, simple and accurate method of measuring water as it flows from a re- 
servoir or other source of supply, and registering on an index the proper quantity 
passing through such machine, has long been a desideratum. ‘There are, however, 
many difficulties to contend with, such as the great and variable pressure used at 
different works ; and in addition to this pressure, the effect produced by suddenly 
stopping any current passing through the meter, which would require very great 
strength of material to resist ; another difficulty is the variable speeds produced by 
variable elevations of water, which would often drive the meter beyond a proper 
speed, and quickly derange and make it imperfect ; another, the difficulty of making 
