REPORT 



OF THE CHEMICAL SECTION. 



The ehemical section respectfully report that they have attended 

 to the duty assigned them in the examination of the following sub- 

 jects and instruments submitted to them as having been presented 

 for premium in the chemical department. 



One essay on the artificial formation of saltpeter, entered for 

 premium No. 14. 



Two sizes of Vidal's coal oil lamps for burning kerosene oil with- 

 out chimneys, entered for premium No. 24. 



One of Fish's nursery lamps and boiler, and one of Fish's tea and 

 coffee boilers and cooking apparatus, both employing kerosene oil 

 as the fuel for producing the heat. Part of an apparatus illus- 

 trating Prof. Seely's plan for burning kerosene oil as a fuel. 



These three last named articles were entered for premium No. 25. 



There were also entered four instruments for testing the vola- 

 tility of coal oils and burning fluids, to compete for a discretionary 

 premium. One by T. Godwin, one by John Tagliabue, one by 

 Prof. Seely, and one by Giuseppe Tagliabue. 



As regards the essay on the artificial formation of saltpeter the 

 section are of the opinion that it does not contain sufficient 

 original practical matter to fulfill the requirements of the offer for 

 premium No. 14. 



In the experiments with Vidal's lamps it was found that they 

 did not produce perfect combustion when burning kerosene oil, and 

 therefore they do not meet the requirements of the ofi'er for 

 premium No. 24. 



The section have examined the apparatus illustrating the plan 

 for burning kerosene oil for heating purposes, invented and pre- 

 sented by Prof. Seely. It appears to be based upon correct prin- 

 ciples ; there also appears to be a large amount of ingenuity 

 displayed in this method of producing heat from the burning of 

 kerosene oil ; and the section are of the opinion, from the examina- 

 tion of the part of the apparatus that was exhibited to them, that 

 Prof. Seely has done himself and his invention great injustice in 

 not having exhibited his apparatus in such form that would have 

 enabled the section to practically test its value. 



The two apparatus presented by Mr. Fish, severally called 



