122 



of The Liverpool Dispensary, published in the year 1799, 

 and made observations on tlie list of subscribers. 

 Papers were then read, 



" On Preserved Milks and Meats," by C. Bell, Esq. 

 in which that gentleman resumed the consideration of 

 the important scientific and practical question of 

 encasing various articles of food, so tliat they might 

 be kept in a fresh and nutritious condition for a number 

 of years. He opened, in illustration, several canisters of 

 milk, chocolate, eggs, and mutton, all of which Avere in 

 excellent preservation, [See page 65.] 



" On a New Method of Manufacturing Steel, by 

 William Clay, Esq. 



Before describing his process of making cheap steel, 

 Mr. Clay referred to that of manufacturing iron; the 

 ore being first taken from the blast furnace in tlie form of 

 "pig-iron," whicli Avas a composition of carbon and that 

 metal, and tlien refined by the puddling operations, by 

 which the carbon to a certain degree was removed and 

 " wrought iron" produced. To obtain steel a further 

 series of operations Jiad to be gone tln-ough, carbon being 

 again united to the iron, but not in the original propor- 

 tions of the pig-iron. His object was to remove from 

 the pig-iron such a portion of carbon as would give it the 

 composition of steel, and the difficulty lay in removing 

 the necessary quantity. A plan for doing tins had been 

 patented in 1850, an excellent wrought steel being pro- 

 duced. 



Mr. Clay then explained his method of producing 

 puddled steel, and exhibited numerous specimens which 

 illustrated its strength, fracture, homogeneousness and 

 power to receive in the lathe a very high polish. He 

 considered it a metal exceedingly well adapted, from its 



