222 REPORT—1858. 
several fragments, and injured several men in the neighbourhood In this 
latter case an appreciable amount of time elapsed between the ball leaving the 
muzzle of the gun and the bursting of the gun at the breech. His theory conse- 
quently was, that a ball discharged from a gun was not altered in its force and aim 
by the bursting of the arm, but that the bursting occurred at a subsequent period 
to the discharge of the ball. Mr. Smith has seen many other cases proving the 
same fact. 
On Combined Steam. By the Hon. J. WEATHERED. 
Being convinced that ordinary steam was objectionable because it was too much 
saturated with water, and that surcharged steam was also objectionable for an 
exactly contrary reason, it being too dry, the author conceived the idea of com- 
bining the two, and discovered in practice not only that the objections to both were 
removed, but that in combined steam a new power was produced—an effective and 
economical combination of fire and water, applicable to all purposes for which 
steam is employed. 
In order to apply this new system, a pipe, in addition to the usual steam pipe 
which conveys the ordinary steam away from the boiler, carrying with it more or 
less water in a liquid state, is employed to convey part of the steam from the boiler 
through pipes which are conyoluted, or otherwise placed in any convenient form in 
the uptake or chimney of the boiler, and is joined to the ordinary steam pipe at or 
near its entrance into the cylinder. In its passage through these pipes this steam 
is more or less heated to a temperature of 500° or 600° Fahr. by the waste heat 
which is passing up the chimney: this heat, thus arrested, is conveyed to and 
utilized in the cylinder at temperatures varying between 300° and 400°, instead of 
at the low temperatures at which it is now employed. 
From various experiments which have been made by the British, French, and 
United States Governments, all of which were attended with the most satisfactory 
results, which are fully detailed in the paper, the author deduces the following 
general inferences :— 
I. That the mixed steam participates at the same time of the qualities of steam 
proper, and of gas, or superheated steam,—the elasticity of the one, and the increased 
temperature derived from the other. 
Il. That saturated steam contains too much vesicular water, and that super- 
heated steam has too much the nature of gas, is a bad conductor of heat, and gives 
with difficulty the heat necessary to transform it into mechanical power. 
III. That, in all the experiments which have been made of the mixed steam, the 
difference in the temperature of the steam in entering and leaving the cylinder was 
greater than when saturated or surcharged steam alone was used; consequently, as 
more heat was utilized, greater mechanical force was generated. iat 
IV. It seems evident, therefore, that the mixture contains more latent caloric, 
which is rendered sensible, and consequently converted into mechanical power. 
The advantages which it possesses over the use of ordinary steam are :— 
ist. One-third of the wear and tear of boilers prevented, inasmuch as only two- 
thirds of the usual quantity of heat’ is required; and, as only two-thirds of the 
usual quantity of water is needed, one-third of the deposit in boilers is prevented. 
2nd. For the same speed smaller boilers can be used. 
3rd. Increased power when required in cases of emergency. 
4th. Priming effectually prevented. 
5th. Less danger from explosion, as the increased power is exerted in the cylinder, 
and not in the boiler. 
6th. The system can be employed to any boiler now in use. 
7th, One-third of the space now occupied by coal can be used for freight, or 
steamers may go one-third farther with the same coal. 
8th. Fewer strokes are required. 
9th. The desired pressure readily maintained at all times. 
