May 23, 1895] 



NATURE 



89 



ments are peculiar, but — I may be allowed to say — most success- 

 ful. The greater part of the room, which is 40 feet long by 21 

 feet wide, is occupied by cases which contain preparations and 

 specimens under the headings of («) Form and Locomotion, (A) 

 Alimentation, (c) Circulation and Respiration, (</) Nervous Sys- 

 iini and Sense Organs, and lastly, objects displaying the main 

 lines fjf classification. In fact, a collection modelled, both as to 

 cases and modes of display, on the same lines as the admirable 

 Introductory Collection of Sir William Flower at the Natural 

 History Museum. It is, of course, on a miniature scale, and it 

 i^, not yet complete. Beyond the main laboratory is a smaller 

 room temporarily occupied for another purpose. 



It now remains for me to add some attempt at a description of 

 the general appearance of these laboratories. In the main, one 

 may say, tliere is an air of dignity about the lofty and well-pro- 

 portioned rooms, with their substantial and cosily fittings. The 

 woodwork is jiitch-pine topped everywhere by thick teak. In 

 the biological museums the cases are of mahogany, and perfectly 

 constructed. Most of the teak tops of benches and tables are 

 thinly coated with paraffin as a preservative. It is still important 

 that r(-)oms devoted to scientific work in schools should be excep- 

 tionally neat and bright in appearance. Indeed, it may even be 



some branch of engineering with special reference to the scientific 

 principles which have been factors in its advancement. 



Twenty years ago, Lord Armstrong stated that of all the coal 

 raised in this country about one-third wa.s used for household 

 purposes, one-third for generating steam, and one-third for iron- 

 making and manufacturing processes. He remarked that in the 

 two first divisions the waste of fuel was shameful, and that with- 

 out carrying economy to extreme limits, all the effects now 

 realised from the use of coal could be obtained by an expenditure 

 of half the quantity. The improvement of the steam engine is 

 mainly due to an incessant attempt to diminish the waste of fiiel. 



Tests of Steam Engines in Cornwall. 

 Steam engineers have been face to face with the problem ot 

 economy for more than a centurj-. ("oal was excessively dear in 

 Cornwall, and as the mines were deepened and more power was 

 required, the cost of working increased ruinously. By reducing 

 fuel cost. Watt saved the mining industry from extinction, and 

 he adopted the plan of taking in payment for his engines a sum 

 reckoned equivalent to one-third of the fuel saved. By agree- 

 ment with the miners, tests were made, and the standard duty of 

 a Newcomen engine was fixed at 7,037,00x3 foot lbs. per bushel. 



A Case of Specimens in Biological Laboratory, illustrating Form and Locomotion. 



said that appearances are at present more important than any- 

 thing else as regards the value attachefl to the subject. Manners 

 must grow to match the clothes. We have to bear in minil that we 

 labtjur in the cause not of science alone, Iiut of science as an in- 

 ^irument of school training. The laboratories are all en siiitf, 

 whereby control is more easy, and a feeling of organic unity 

 gained. Moreover, the workshops are within touch of the labora- 

 tories, as is also the large drawing-school. 



Finally, I may mention that all the water and waste system 

 has been laid down in direct contravention of all the best tra- 

 ditions of plumbing, with the happy result that we never need the 

 services of a plumber for repairing. Alfred Earl. 



THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EXPERI- 

 MENTAL STUD V OFHEA T ENGINES)- 

 TT was Mr. Forrest's intention that the annual lecture bearing 

 his name should illustrate the dependence of the engineer in 

 his practical professional work on the mathematical and physical 

 sciences. It therefore naturally takes the form of a review of 



^ -Abstract of the " James Forrest " Lecture, delivered at the Instiliitiiin 

 of Civil KnKineers, May g, by Prof. \V. C. Unwin, F.R.S. 



NO. 1334, VOL. 52] 



Regular duty determinations were made for all Watt's engines. 

 (ienerally (hey gave a duty of 20,000,000. When Watt's con- 

 nection ^vith Cornwall ceased in 1800 ; the duty determinations 

 were neglected, and the engines deteriorated. 



Then Captain Joel Lean, who had reorganised the machinery 

 at one of the mines, and eflecled great economies, started again 

 the system of duty trials, lie anil his sons carried on the work 

 for many years, and iiublished reports of the results of the trials. 

 (Jf these reports Dr. I'ole says : " The publication produced an 

 extraordinary effect in improving the duty of the engines. 

 Engineers were slimulateil lo emulation amongst themselves. 

 The practice of re])orting is thought to have been attended with 

 more benefit to the county than any other single event excepting 

 only the invention of the steam engine itself." 



I shall show later that the creation of a new and more scien- 

 tific system of testing l)y Him and his coUetigues in Alsace, in 

 1855, w.as the starting-point of a similar process of improvement, 

 t^uite lately there has been a revival of careful and independent 

 engine testing aiul of the |)ublicalion of the results, and records 

 have been established which would have been thought impossible 

 ten years ago. 



The ])eculiar character of the load against which the Cornish 



