498 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The Chairman said certainly not, and stated that he was asked 

 by several who resided in the same county as himself, why the 

 Caloric engine was not brought more into use, to which he replied 

 that it was for the reason that it worked with a great destruction 

 of its own material. 



Adjourned to Thursday evening, October 25th, at half past 

 seven o'clock. 



American Institute, Polytechnic Association, ) 

 October 25, 1860. ] 



Prof. Mason in the chair. 



The Chairman inquired if there was any member present who 

 had any miscellaneous matter which he wished to bring forward 

 for the purpose of occupying the half hour devoted to that pur- 

 pose. 



Mr. Churchill produced and exhibited a specimen of decayed 

 India rubber, and wished to be informed of the reason of its de- 

 cay. 



Mr. Dibben. — The simple reason of its decay is that it was 

 subjected to too high a temperature. If heated to too high a 

 temperature, it will be partially destroyed on the surface. I do 

 not say that it is a mixture which has anything in it to cause it. 

 I should rather say that it was the heat. 



Mr. Fisher wished to know how much steam would escape from 

 a boiler with the dampers, shut air-tight. 



Mr. Dibben did not think it followed that because the doors 

 were shut that evaporization was to take place at all. 



Mr. Garvey said that the answer to the gentleman was very 

 plain, and his position would be well met by taking as an illus- 

 tration, a tea urn, for in that you put in a red hot iron without 

 any fire at all ; whatever heat is got in there is got off at the 

 surface. 



Mr. Seely stated that the specific heat varied according to the 

 different kinds of coal that might be used. 



Mr. Fisher thought that was no answer. 



Mr. Seely. — No definite answer can be given until all the 

 facts connected with it are placed before us. I cannot see that 

 there is anything in the matter at all. 



The Chairman proposed as a subject for future consideration, 

 " The most available mode of preserving wood exposed to the 

 weather," and stated that it was not eight years since the New 



