144 REPORT — 1867. 



lade. Of these there are about one and a lialf million required every year, costing 

 upwards of £6500. The marmalade season, as it may be called, that is the period 

 during which all that is required of this preserve for the year's supply must be 

 made, usually continues about four months, viz. from the beginning of December 

 to the end of March. The author mentioned that the word " marmalade," is 

 supposed to be derived from an Indian fruit not unlike the orange, called the 

 ^ijle mannehs, or Indian Bael, from which, at one period, a similar consei-ve 

 seems to have been made. Besides orange marmalade, other preserves from 

 fruit are extensively manufactured in Dundee, considerable quantities of fruit 

 being grown in the neighbourhood, although far from sufficient to supply the de- 

 mand. The manufacture of confections is also carried on on a very large scale, and 

 embraces an immense variety of lozenges, comfits, candied peels, &c. The author 

 stated that, in most of the processes connected with the production of these, care- 

 fully-constructed steam-machinery is now successfully employed ; and the result 

 is a degree of finish, quality, and cheapness which hand-labour could never have 

 attained. The quantity of sugar, chietly refined, used for the confections, marma- 

 lade, and preserves, made in Dundee, it would be difficult to estimate ; but it pro- 

 bably amounts to 2000 tons annually. 



It may be asked whether this is a healthful occupation to the persons engaged in 

 it ; and that question can, it is believed, be confidently answered in the affirmative. 

 It has been ascertained that working among sugar and fruit is not injurious 

 to health, but the reverse, especially when care is taken that the], temperature in 

 the work-rooms is duly equalized and cleanliness and ventilation constantly at- 

 tended to. 



On the Utilization or more Profitable Employment of Male Convicts. 



By James Oldham. 



On tJie Engineering Mamifacture of Dundee. By James G. Oechar. 



The author enumerated the firms engaged in the production of steam-engines, 

 general millwiight work, and spinning, weaving and cloth-finishing machinery. 

 The invention of the fan blast or blowing machine, for heating and melting 

 iron, by Messrs. James Carmichael and Co., of Ward Foundry, was described at 

 length, and the invention of a marine reversing gear by the same firm was also 

 referred to. 



A photogi-aph of the first locomotive, made in 183.0 for the Dundee and New- 

 tyle Railway, was exhibited. 



The author next described the invention of the air-engine by the Messrs. 

 Stirling, and concluded his paper with an account of the early engineering and 

 millwright work in Dundee, and statistics of mill-machinery. 



On the Prevalence of " Spedalske," or Leprosy, in the Kinr/dom of Norway. By 

 HENRi' J. Ker Porter, M.B.I.A., Member of the Philosopihical Society of 

 New South Wales. 



During a tour in Norway last year (1866), the author visited the Leper Hospitals 

 at Molde and Eergin, and learned that the disease is incurable. Although the 

 disease is neither infectious or contagious, one naturally shrinks from contact with 

 these poor sufferers. Many of the patients whom the author saw were similarly 

 affected to those seen by him at Calcutta and around the outer walls of Jerusalem. 

 Some, whose fingers were contracted, were quite devoid of feeling in their hands ; 

 others were suffering from tubercular leprosj'. lie was assured by the resident 

 Governor at INIolde that there were many truly religious persons amongst those 

 patient sufferers. Those who had the use of their hands were occupied in making 

 fishing-nets, or preparing fine cord for that purpose. The disease is hereditary ; 

 and though it will occasionally pass over one or two generations, it will appear in 

 a second or third one. Few will be prepared to learn that in Norway there are 

 above 2000 lepers, as will be seen from the following abstract from the official 

 returns furnished to the Government. 



