PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 493 



quicldy incorporating the lime in uniform fineness by bre.iking up 

 all lumps. From the mill the mixture should be placed in barrels 

 and headed up for sale. 



By this operation there will be a very slight escape of gas, and 

 then for only a brief interval, and a valuable mixture is obtained, 

 which will not only serve in a great degree to meet the expense 

 of the lime to the gas companies, but will preserve for agricul- 

 tural use a valuable commodity now absolutely wasted. 

 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



J. BUEROWS HYDE. 



Mr. Geo. Bartlett remarked that a recent number of the London 

 Gaslight Journal had a communication from the superintendent 

 of one of the gas houses there, in which it was stated that while 

 the cholera was there none of the employees were attacked Avith 

 it, and they used to bring their families to sleep in the gas house 

 while it was raging there. It was now, Mr. B. thought, well set- 

 tled, that foul odors are not unfavorable to health. The gases in 

 themselves are not injurious. It is probable that these simple 

 deodorizers are not of much use in preventing the spread of the 

 disease. 



Dyed Wood. 



The chairman then exhibited a number of beautiful specimens 

 of dyed wood presented by Barton H. Jenks, Esq., of Bridesburg, 

 Pa., and read the following letter regarding them addressed to 

 the President : 



Bridesburg, August 20, 1866. 

 Hon. Horace Greeley, President American Institute : 



Dear Sir — I have the honor of sending to- you, directed to the 

 rooms of the Institute, samples of dyed wood. Two sides of the 

 samples are varnished ; the other two sides left as they appear 

 taken from dye. Each sample is marked with the kind of dye 

 used, and there are duplicates of each dye, one with and the 

 other without, paratfin. The invention relates to a new ^process 

 for ornamenting various kinds of cheap woods, and imitating the 

 more valuable varieties of wood for the purpose of producing a 

 new article of commerce which will be valuable in the manufac- 

 ture of furniture and all other purposes where ornamental woods 

 are required. 



The invention consists in imparting permanent colors to differ- 

 ent kinds of wood, by first expelling the air and gases from the 



