172 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION B. 



down to an uniform height of three feet from the floor, i.e. at 

 about the level of the top of the benches. Outer Venetian blinds 

 or inner shutters are to be provided for all the windows facing 

 north and west and inner blinds for the other windows. The 

 spaces under the lecture room galleries are lighted by the side 

 windows and by thick-ribbed glass placed in front of the gallery 

 tiers. 



GENERAL LABORATORY 



Along the west wall of the laboratory is a long slate bench 

 forty-eight feet long. (Plates XI. and XII.) At one end is a 

 Doulton-ware sink with the edge projected by wood and india- 

 rubber, and a drying slope, with perforated drying rack over. 

 Next to this is a self-feeding still for distilled water to supply 

 about ten gallons a day. This is placed on a strong and firmly 

 supported slate slab, inserted in the wall and raised some four feet 

 above the bench so as to allow the distilled water to be conducted 

 by gravitation through tin or glass pipes along the whole length 

 of the laboratory, from a large glass receiver or plate glass 

 cistern. (Plate XL) The still is to be self-feeding, from the 

 hot water overflow of the condensing or worm tub. As shown in 

 the sketch (Plate XL), the inlet tube is curved downwards ; 

 this is to prevent steam forcing its way into the condenser tub, 

 as sometimes happens with a straight tube. The supply of water 

 from the cistern is to be regulated by a ball tap or other suitable 

 aiTangement. To economise gas it is proposed to have a Fletcher's 

 corrugated base to the still, and to enclose it in an iron casing or 

 jacket as usual. The opening of the still head is made large for 

 readily cleaning, and made to tit steam tight, by an outer screw 

 collar or cap. The next part of the bench, about eight feet in 

 length, is merely covered with a hood for use with gas furnaces 

 for melting, combustion, and other purposes. Beyond the hood 

 is an ordinary draught cupboard five feet six inches long by 

 twenty-one inches broad, followed by two similar cupboards, one 

 of which is fitted with five copper water ovens and baths 

 combined, the space between the oven being packed with asbestos 

 to prevent loss of heat. Each oven is provided with two sets of 

 perforated covers and rings, so that they can be used for either 

 large or small evaporating basins. (Plate XII.) 



The water ovens are provided with large ventilators. As 

 usually made the ventilation is quite insuflicient, and the escape 

 tube or flue, is far too small as well as too short. The doors 

 contain a glass panel so that they can be looked into without 

 opening the door, and thus unnecessarily lowering the temperature. 



The third draught cupboard is fitted with a hot plate, 

 and large water bath. Beyond this is a hood, similar to the 

 first, for distillation and combustions. (Plate XII.) By this 

 arrangement no student will have to go far from his place to 

 fetch distilled water, or for the use of the water ovens, gas 

 furnaces, etc. 



