952 Transactions of the Asierican Institute. 



the point was that observers used very bad telescopes; but he soon 

 had to give up that theory. IiTadiation is probably a puxely ocoular 

 phenomenon, having its seat in. the eye itself, andi will, tlierefore, be 

 unavoidable to tlie end of, time. 



After the item on "goitre" was read Dr. L. Feuchtwanger- 

 remarked that it was said that the mountain air and the water of 

 Savoy was the cause of goitre. 



Dr. A. Preterre said that goitre is mainly confined to females, 

 therefore it is not due to the water or the mountains. 



Dr. J. J. Edwards stated that goitre is an enlargement of the 

 thyroid gland. It is nothing more or less than a vice of scrofulous 

 connection, by marryiiig witliin the forbidden degree. It is one of 

 the most simple' forms of scrofula. Whenever blood relations marry 

 there will be scrofula in some shape or other. 



Dr. L. Bradley said he always understood that goitre was occa- 

 sioned by drinking the sandy water of the Alps and other mountain- 

 ous places in Switzerland. 



New Keeosene Buknek. 



Mr. Bliss exhibited his kerosene lamp. The chimney is four inches 

 high, and gives perfect combustion. A six inch chimney would 

 increase the flame just one inch higher. The chimney is always cool, 

 tlie air is adhiitted so evenly that it cools the burner so that the 

 chimney eaui be taken off after some time. 



B^suLis OF Chemical Action in a Boilek. 



Mr; C. E". Emery exhibited some pieces of zinc taken from a boiler ; 

 they were placed on the upper surface of the water ; they were put 

 in the boiler to prevent corrosion of the iron. The fii-st surface 

 condensers, were made with copper tubes, and the efiect was that the , 

 heating surfaces of the boiler were covered with pin holes. The 

 same diffieulty occurs now where the tinned tubes are not perfectly 

 tinned. Zinc was tried, and the result is to curve the zinc in tliis 

 curious shape. They have been placed in the boiler five months. 

 The zinc when put in was in square straight pieces, and now they 

 are quite curved, these curves are probably due to the rapi^ circula- 

 tion: of tlie water,, the convection is toward the fire door surface. The 

 water used in this boiler was distilled, that is, condensed steam. 

 Pure olive oil was used in the cylinders. It is an important item to 

 iava water for boilers in this city, where the water tax is so great ; 



