CHAP. V.] IMPKOVEMENT IN GAS-BUKNEKS. 39 



amount of light; but I shall have to speak of this instrument 

 when I give an account of its being used at the eclipse of the 

 sun in 1858, so that there is no need of further describing it 

 here. There is also a description of his ingenious contrivance 

 for the better lighting of rooms by horizontal fish-tail gas- 

 burners. 



It occurred to me (he writes) that the light should be placed at about 

 an angle of forty-five degrees if placed about the centre of the room, or if 

 near the ceiling, almost horizontal. 

 In my own library (and in his dining- 

 room, too), I am using a star with 

 three fish-tail burners, so arranged 

 that the gas passes out horizontally, 

 a direction which causes the flame to 

 assume a curve eminently calculated 

 to illuminate the table. An enormous FlG - 4 - Gas-burner and jet. 



increase of light is obtained by these means. From the very great 

 superiority of the illuminating power obtained by this very simple 

 arrangement, I feel but little doubt that it will be at last generally 

 adopted. 



He lived to see it universally adopted, although few if any 

 beyond his intimate circle of friends know to whom they are 

 indebted for originating this perfect manner of illumination. 



The treatise contains also fifty short rules for the preservation 

 of sight, and for the choice of spectacles. 



It may suffice here to add that the eye was my father's 

 speciality, and that over a series of years he was largely con- 

 sulted on that subject by a high class of patients. It is to me a 

 source of regret that other inducements caused him to abandon 

 in a great measure this part of his profession, in which he was, 

 to use the words of Sir David Brewster, " so distinguished." 



In 1848 he also brought out a sheet of Directions for Accidents 

 and Emergencies to be used before the arrival of medical aid. 

 This sheet was specially designed for the poor. For the title of 

 the sheet, which was made ornamental so that the poor should 

 hang it up in their cottages, an engraving after a painting 

 by Sir Joshua Keynolds, in the Dulwich Gallery, was selected. 

 In this painting the idea of life is represented by an angel, 

 death is depicted by another figure, and disease in the form of 

 a child. 



A few other short papers also appeared from his pen during 

 this year, amongst which may be mentioned one in the ' Illus- 

 trated London News' for December 2nd, 1848, 'On Electric 

 Light and Gas Companies.' 



