NEW AND RARE PLANTS. 



B E V I E W 



112 



A Practical Treatise on Warming Buildings by Hot Water .- 

 and an inquiry into the Laws of radiant and conducted Heat. 

 To which are added, Remarks on Ventilation, and on the va- 

 rious methods of distributing artificial Heat, and their effect on 

 animal and vegetable Physiology. By Ciiari.es Hood, F. B. 

 A. S. Illustrated by numerous Wood-cuts; 8vo., p. p. 216. 

 London: Whittaker & Co., Ave Maria Lane, 1837. 

 This excellent Publication contains a very judicious proposition 

 of practical, and theoretical observations on the matters treated 

 upon, and which are detailed in a very scientific and explicit 

 manner. Every person who is at all interested in heating Dwellings, 

 Hot-houses, Greenhouses, &c, ought to possess the Book, which 

 cannot fail to prove extremely useful. We very strongly recom- 

 mend the Work to our readers. The author observes in the pre- 

 face that 



•' Frequent applications having been made to me, by persons %vho were 

 aware that the subject hail engaged my attention, to recommend to them a 

 practical treatise on its principles and application, the utility of such a woik 

 in forwarding the progress of the discovery, became obvious. And finding 

 that nothing relating to the invention had hitherto been published, except a 

 few scattered and unimportant notices, it appeared probable that the mate- 

 rials I possessed might form a treatise which would be useful, not only in 

 showing the practical application of the invention, but also in explaining 

 the scientific principles upon which the various effects depend. The follow- 

 ing pages are therefore offered, in the hope of supplying the desideratum. 



"The dilFerent parts of the .subject have been arranged, as far as possible, 

 under distinct heads. The primary object has been to explain the principles, 

 in a manner perfectly clear aail intelligible to such as are unacquainted with 

 those branches of physical science on which the philosophy of the invention 

 is hased : and, while endeavouring to remove (he erroneous notion, which is 

 entertained by some persons, that a certain degree of danger is inseparable 

 from the plan, to show that danger can occur only thiough a misapplication 

 of the principles. 



'• In order 10 pursue the inquiry in a popular manner, all ablruse calcula- 

 tions and scientific technicalities have been, as much as possible, avoided , 

 and the most simple definitions the subject would admit of, have been adopted, 

 as far as is consistent with perspicuity. 



" The Uules, Calculations, and Tables, which are given in the body of the 

 work, have, nearly all, been constructed expressly with reference to the 

 present inquiry ; and the tables given at the end of the volume are compiled 

 from the best authorities: the whole comprising, it is hoped, all the infor- 

 mation which the subject requires. 



The Contents are 



Chaptrr I. — On the cause of the circulation of the water, and its con- 

 sequences. — Chapter II. On the application of the principles. — Chapter III. 

 On the proportionate :,i/.es of various paTta of the apparatus. — I hapter IV. 

 On permanence ol temperature, depending un the form and siae of the boiler 

 and pipes. — Chapter V. On the size and construction ol furnaces. — Chapter 

 VI. On the laws of heat. — Chapter VII. Experiments on cooling. — Chapter 



Vol. vi. No. 03 L 





