Proceedings of the Society of Arts. 417 



paper^ and that the proper paper was that which was unsized and porous, 

 like common printing paper. It appears that some banks have adopted 

 this ink for orders, letters of credit, &c. The Committee reported that 

 Dr Veitch's Ink, though indelible, destroyed the fabric of the paper. 



The following Candidates were admitted as Ordinary Mem- 

 bers, viz. — 



1. William Kenned}', Esq. W. S. 57 Northumberland Street. 2. Sa- 

 muel Wright, Esq. of Nottingham, 17 St Patrick Square. 3. George 

 Glover, Esq. surgeon, 19 Buccleuch Place. 



\Zth March. — Sir John Graham Dalyell, Kt., President, in 

 the Chair. The following communications were laid before 

 the Society. 



1. On the best means of Burning Gas for supplj'ing Heat. By Sir 

 John Robison, K. H., Sec. R. S. Ed.— C. S. A. (581.) Thanks voted. 



The manner of heating bj' the flame of a mixture of gas and common 

 air passing through a tube having a diaphragm of wire gauze, was, in this 

 paper, strongly recommended to be used in various processes in the arts ; 

 particularly in the hardening and tempering of fine edge-tools and other 

 articles of steel. No scaling or oxidation takes place, and the finest edge 

 is preserved entire. 



2. Observations on Boots and Shoes, with reference lo the Structure 

 and Action of the Human Foot. By Mr James Dowie, Boot and Shoe- 

 maker, 57 Frederick Street, Edinburgh, M.S. A. Specimens, Casts, and 

 Drawings were exhibited. (621.) Thanks voted, and ordered to be 

 printed in the Transactions. 



This was a very interesting paper, shewing that, as the human foot be- 

 comes elongated to the extent, in many cases, of two-thirds of an inch, 

 when under pressure of the body, as in walking, imless provision be 

 made for the elongation of the boot or shoe along with the foot, the feet 

 and toes must be cramped, their healthy action impaired, and, in many 

 cases, stiffness and even distortion of the joints of the toes superinduced. 

 This desideratum has been effected by Mr Dowie, in his elastic boots 

 and shoes, by the introduction of an elastic substance in the sole and 

 upper leather, which, while quite impervious to water, has the property 

 of enlarging and contracting along with the foot, both when in motion 

 and under pressure, and when at rest and free from the pressure of the 

 body. 



3. On a Perfect Parallel Motion for the Stcam-Enginc. By John Scott 

 Russell, M. A.— F. R. S. E., V. P. Soc. Arts. (62G.) Thanks voted, and 

 referred to a Committee. 



Thi.s was a very beautiful .'ind scientific application of a mathematical 

 proposition, to the mechanism of the steam-engine. By this method 



