.S7A' WILUAM SIEMENS, F.R.S. 1 87 



ivi'ii to chemical manufactures such us I need not specify 

 i,* ihis Society. 



There are other questions which I should like to have touched 

 upon, regarding certain applications of heating gas, and certain 

 UB of intensifying illuminating gas, so as to bring it more 

 niMi-ly up to the standard of brilliancy of its great rival, the electric 

 light ; but this would, I fear, be travelling outside my subject, 

 which was to bring before, the Society the question of gas as a 

 lieu ting agent. 



Tin I 'resident (Professor Koscoe) : We have all listened with 

 interest to this suggestive communication which Dr. Siemens 

 has made to the Society. 



1 feel sure that it is a subject in which every one takes an 

 interest, and it has been treated in his masterly manner. I am 

 sure it will not fail to please all the members who are present. 

 The suggestions he makes are certainly bold enough, and let us hope 

 they may receive that attention from corporations, and from the 

 gas companies, which their importance and the originality of the 

 suggestions warrant. I am sure all the members of the Society 

 would wish to hear, if Dr. Siemens will consent to give us in a 

 few words, the mode of application, which 1 see from some models 

 he has here, he has already thought out. I think it does form a 

 very important part of his communication the method in which 

 lie proposes to use the gases of low illuminating power for heating 

 purposes, and with your consent, gentlemen, I would ask him to 

 give us an account of the method which he proposes to employ 

 before we begin the discussion. 



Dr. Siemens : I did not wish to extend my subject too much, 

 but willingly comply with the desire expressed by the President, 

 and will describe shortly two applications, one of heating gas, and 

 the other of illuminating gas, I have had occasion to make lately, 

 ;ui(l which have given very encouraging results. In using gaseous 

 fuel in an ordinary h're-place, it becomes necessary to introduce 

 some substance which shall become incandescent in order to 

 radiate the heat into the apartment. We have substance of this 



t description in use in the ordinary gas-grates, such as pumice- 

 stone, or other purely refractory material, but coke or anthracite 

 naturally suggests itself also as a suitable substance for taking up 

 heat and radiating it out ; it joins in the incandescence, and 



