i888-8 9 .] 117 



be solidified by the addition of from one to three per cent, of 

 soap, forming a mass like compact tallow — hard to ignite, but 

 burning without smoke, giving great heat, and leaving only about 

 two per cent, of a hard, black residuum. The oil deposits of 

 Upper Burmah are considered to be as rich as those of America, 

 and we may possibly look to it as a further source of supply. 

 An industry akin to that of petroleum, and which has been 

 largely developed of late years, is the Scotch paraffin trade, in 

 which burning oils and other substances are obtained by the 

 distillation and treatment of coal shale. This branch of trade 

 began by the distillation of the Boghead Mineral Coal, by 

 Young, and thus Britain has again the honour of being first in 

 the field. The production of oil from shale is one of the many 

 instances in which substances formerly looked upon as waste 

 have been utilised. In addition to the light burning and 

 heavier lubricating oils obtained from the crude petroleum, we 

 have also the white, semi-transparent substance known as 

 paraffin wax, which has so largely taken the place of tallow in 

 the manufacture of candles, and which has proved an effective 

 insulator in electricity, and is employed in conjunction with 

 cotton in covering bell wires. Another product is vaseline, 

 which from its healing properties forms a valuable medicinal 

 ointment, and has been much used instead of animal fats in the 

 production of perfumes from flowers, possessing as it does in a 

 marked degree the power of absorbing their odours from them. 

 Another direction in which chemical science has progressed is 

 that of the discovery and manufacture of the various explosives, 

 and their adoption to blasting and mining purposes. 



The art of photography may well be included in any review 

 of the recent advance of chemical knowledge. I shall not refer 

 specially to it in the presence of so many of our members who 

 have made that interesting art a study. I may, however, refer 

 to the introduction of the dry plate processes, the pneumatic 

 shutters, and other apparatus by which instantaneous photo- 

 graphs may be taken ; the improvements which have been 

 effected in order to enable tourists to take and bring home 



