PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 525 



out the products of combustion. This combustion is more perfect 

 than it is in the arts. The carbonic oxide is all burned to car- 

 bonic acid before it escapes. All the movements of animals are 

 simply results of chemical action, and a little calculation will 

 show that an animal is the most economical machine we know of. 

 It is immensely ahead of the' steam engine. In a year we take 

 in only about a ton and a half of material, two-thirds of which 

 we throw away because it is not fine enough to burn. We use 

 only 800 pounds of oxygen; yet for 365 days we move about our 

 150 pounds constantly. Only about five ounces of combustible 

 material are required to move us about all day ; while a steam 

 engine, to carry us about in that way, would consume perhaps a 

 ton of coal. 



Mr. C. W. Smith. — Without endorsing 210 deg. as the highest 

 amount of heat to which vegetable or animal food can be raised 

 without injury, I am convinced that there is a point, somewhere, 

 peculiar, perhaps, to each substance. In the preparation of food 

 the great point is to prepare it mechanically, and not to change 

 it chemically. It has been claimed that broiled meat is more 

 healthy than boiled meat. The explanation of that may be that 

 in broiling we get rid of the grease, which runs away and gets 

 burned up. Frying is especially unwholesome, because the 

 grease is retained and subjected to a high temperature. 



The subject of " Organic Chemistry " was continued, and the 

 subject of the " Preparation of Food " was also adopted for the 

 next meeting, March 13. 



Adjourned. 



American Institute, Polytechnic Association, 



March 13, 1862. 



Mr. Tillman introduced to the Association Professor Charles 

 A. Joy, of Columbia College, the new Chairman, who had been 

 appointed by the Board of Science and Art of the Institute. . 



On taking the chair. Prof. Joy thanked the Board of Science 

 and Art for the honor conferred in selecting him to preside over 

 the deliberations of the Association. He was not familiar with 

 the former proceedings of the Association, and might need the 

 indulgence and aid of members. There would be some advan- 

 tage in his want of familiarity, as he could not be suspected of 

 undue partiality in cases he might decide upon. 



In the absence of the new Secretary, Mr. Thomas D. Stetson, 

 Mr. J. K. Fisher was appointed Secretary pro tern. 



