60 JOSIAS CHRISTOPHER GAMBLE 



On the 4th December, 1844, Gamble took 

 out a patent to utilise the heat generated in 

 pyrites burners, his idea being to apply it to 

 the concentration of sulphuric acid by passing 

 the hot gas under leaden pans. It is curious 

 that Andreas Kurtz applied for a patent 

 for a similar purpose, passing the heat over 

 instead of under the pans. 



After the final separation from the Crosfields 

 had taken place, Josias Christopher Gamble, on 

 account of declining health, took the world very 

 quietly, visiting his works at Gerard's Bridge 

 two or three times a week, often not getting 

 off his pony during these visits. He 

 suffered from chronic bronchitis, and the acid 

 gases inseparable from an alkali works were 

 not bearable by him ; his health was per- 

 manently impaired, and the anxiety which 

 his lawsuits entailed told upon him very 

 heavily, indeed, it may be said that the final 

 struggle with Andreas Kurtz killed both these 

 enterprising and energetic pioneers of the 

 alkali trade. Both these men had to en- 

 counter difficulties of which the present 

 generation has no conception, their business 

 had raised up a host of enemies among the 

 farmers who would have annihilated them if 

 they could, trained and capable assistants 



