58 REPORT—1868. 
3rd. By what agency were these floors partially and largely broken up ? 
and why, where they have been removed, have they left no scar on the walls 
of the Cavern ? 
Ath. Since, heretofore, Suspension has been followed by Excavation and 
Re-introduction, may this recur at some future time ? 
5th. Had the Great Cave-Bear any speleean contemporaries at first? and, 
if so, What were they? and was Machairodus latidens or Hippopotamus major 
amongst them ? 
6th. How, during the era of the Breccia, were the remains of the Caye- 
Bear carried into the Cavern, seeing that none of them are rolled, broken, or 
gnawed, yet they lie together without the least reference to their anatomical 
relations ? 
It may be hoped that future researches may furnish solutions for at least 
some of these questions. 
On Puddling Iron. By C. W. Stemens, F.R.S.* 
Norwirnstanpine the recent introduction of cast steel for structural pur- 
poses, the production of wrought iron (and puddled steel) by the puddling 
process ranks among the most important branches of British manufacture, 
representing an annual production exceeding one and a half million of tons, 
and a money value of about nine millions sterling. 
Although the puddling process must be admitted to be of great commercial 
importance, and involves most interesting chemical problems, it has received 
less scientific attention than other processes of more recent origin and infe- 
rior importance, owing probably to the mistaken sentiment that a time- 
honoured practice implies perfect adaptation of the best means to the end, 
and leaves little scope for improvement. 
The scanty scientific literature on the subject will be found in Dr. Percy’s 
important work on iron and steel. Messrs. Crace-Calvert and Richard 
Johnson of Manchester+ have supplied most valuable information by a series 
of analyses of the contents of a puddling-turnace during the different stages 
of the process. These prove that the molten pig metal is mixed intimately, 
in the first place, either with a molten portion of the oxides, (or fettling,) 
which form the lining or protecting covering to the cast-iron tray of the 
puddling-chamber, or with a proportion of oxide of iron in the form of 
* Ordered to be printed in extenso among the Reports. 
+ Phil. Mag., September 1857. The following Table from Messrs. Calvert and John- 
son’s paper includes the chief results of their investigations :-— 
Time Carbon. Silicon. 
Pig iron charged ..........20.0000- 12- 2-275 2720 
Sample IN OF eet oitec deecees 12°40 2-726 0-915 
a yee 1-0 2°905 0:197 
” ” 3 15 2:444 0-194 
se eign Aotas 1-20 2°305 07182 
< BA As: 1-35 1-647 0-183 
- = U6 1:40 1-206 0163 
$5 sy aant 1:45 0:963 0-163 
‘“ gat Ob ecodee facass 1-50 0-772 0-168 
Buddled har 2.90 eseteeeee ays cli! 9) ihre. 0-296 0:120 
Wire iron ys Ue Ree Gece. sbeb os 0111 0-088 
