PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 547 



tee are strongly in favor of recommending the use of lead pipe, covered in 

 the inside with tin, in the manner exhibited before this Association,* as 

 not only answering all the requirements of the plumber, but at the same 

 time completely obviating all risk of danger, and this too at little or no 

 advance of cost over the common lead pipe. The lead pipes mostly used in 

 England and Scotland are alloyed with about five per cent, of tin, which, 

 it is claimed, affords some protection to the lead, as it undoubtedly does. 



The objection urged to the tin-lined lead pipe, on account of the sup- 

 posed galvanic action, is not considered as an objection, as the action, if 

 any, is so slight as to be thrown out of account. The chairmaH of ycur 

 committee has very frequently tested the Croton water for lead, and sel- 

 dom, if ever, failed to detect its presence when drawn through lead pipes. 

 All of which is respectfully submitted. 



A. H. EVERETT, 

 JOHN B. RICH, 

 DUBOIS D. PARMELEE. 



The Chairman read the following summary of recent scientific intelligence. 



Phosphorus. 



A new source for obtaining phosphorus is found in the mineral Sombrerite^ 

 from Sombrero, one of the Antilles. It contains sixty-five per cent of phos- 

 phate of lime and seventeen per cent of the phosphate of alumina. 



Castor Oil. 



This oil is manufactured in this country to a considerable extent. It is 

 extracted from the plant Becinus Communis. It was known to tlie Egyp- 

 tians, Grecians and Romans. According to Saussure it contains 74.11 per 

 cent of carbon, 11.03 of hydrogen, and 14.79 of oxygen. It is the heaviest 

 of the fixed oils. It dissolves in its own volume of pure alcohol, and when 

 mixed with collodion forms a thick tenacious mass. 



• Artificial Marble. 



Prof. Rose of Berlin has confirmed Sir James Hall's statement with 

 regard to the change produced in carbonate of lime; arragonite and litho- 

 graphic limestone after being exposed in an iron cylinder or a porcelain 

 bottle, to a white heat for half an hour, were converted into crystalized 

 limestone. 



Decortication of Cereals. 



M. Poissant's plan for peeling the kernels of wheat or other grains, is to 

 dip them in cold water and immediately dry them, after which they are 

 subjected to the action of two rapidly revolving blades which bring the 

 kernels in contact with each other, causing a speedy expansion and separa 

 tion of the skins which are driven off by fanning. Charles Davidson, C. E., 

 thus states the advantages of this process: 



1st. The decorticated grain will always be profitable to the world as it 

 incontestably yields from ten to twelve per cent more flour than ordinary 

 millering. 



• Willard & Shaw's Patent. 



