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it shows great affinity for all the common elements. That gold resists 

 the advances of oxygen and retains its hrilliant color under all ordinary 

 conditions is remarkable, and gives it a claim to stand as the symbol of 

 both purity and beauty. The relation between light and the metals is not 

 yet understood, but he had observed the fact, that the most important 

 metals resemble in color the three primary rays of which light is composed. 

 Copper, for instance, has the color of the red ray, which contains the 

 greatest calorific power, and this metal is an admirable conductor of heat, 

 gold resembles the ray having the greatest calorific power ; iron, the ray 

 having the greatest actinic power. Iron has qualities possessed to some 

 extent by cobalt and nickel, yet it must be called, far excellence, the mag- 

 netic metal. Silver, the whitest of the metals, resembles the three rays 

 combined, and stands pre-eminent as a conductor of electricity. Gold 

 owing to its malleability, may be made to exhibit any phenomena of color 

 by transmission of light. 



Dr. Reuben agreed with the last speaker that non-oxydizability was a 

 valuable characteristic of gold, but another not less valuable property was 

 \i& plasticity. This is confounded in the books with malleability. Gold 

 has the compactness of platinum, and is more easily worked. These quali- 

 ties, added to its beauty and scarcity, must give it the position of the most 

 precious metal. 



T. D. Stetson alluded to the great use made of gold in gilding, and in 

 prqtecting various kinds of ornamental work from the action of destructive 

 elements. It was applied even to the points of lightning rods. It is of the 

 greatest use in dentistry. It is known now to have a crystallizable condi- 

 tion in which it can be used without any alloy, thereby preventing the 

 disagreeable and injurious galvanic action which result from the action of 

 the saliva on two metals. 



Mr. C. A. Seeley said it was a mistaken notion that gold was only use- 

 ful as an ornament. This might be true of the diamond, which in the arts 

 is but little used, except to cut glass, or furnish pivots for fine wheel work. 

 But gold, if it were as cheap as lead, would be used in every business where 

 rust was dreaded, particularly for culinary vessels. The production of 

 gold is increasing in greater ratio than silver, and we may hope to see its 

 relative cost somewhat lessened. 



Dr. R. P. Stevens said, next to iron, gold, if we include its use as a 

 medium of exchange, enters most largely into the business wants of man, 

 that is, in proportion to the gross amount used. Iron and gold are the 

 great civilizers. Iron conduces to supply the rougher and more immediate 

 wants of society, whether natural or artificial ; gold to gratify the refined 

 and sesthetic feelings. The jeweller consumes in his art the largest 

 amount of gold. Next comes the dentist, who uses more than all that goes 

 to adorn the table of the rich. To American dentists the world is indebted 

 for great discoveries and proficiencies in the appliances of this metal. 

 Gold, as gilding, is a greater preservative of wood than either paints or 

 oils, when exposed to the action of the weather. He remembered a sign in 



