December 17th, 1920.] Proceedings. xxv. 



are to be successfully protected by patents. Examples were 

 given showing that when a new process is developed, three 

 lines of research are required : first, further development of 

 the original idea ; second, obtaining practical data required by 

 the process manager ; and third, information required if a 

 watertight patent is to be obtained. The lecturer then dis- 

 cussed the differences between the technical and legal attitude 

 of mind with a view to harmonising the conflicting claims of 

 these various problems. It was shown that the technical mind, 

 in a typical case, is creative and subjective, and that the legal 

 mind is analytic and objective. These latter qualities are 

 essential to generalise the invention for the purpose of legal 

 protection. It was argued that analysis and objectivity, far 

 from hindering- research, are actually in the true spirit of 

 scientific method. It was concluded that if the patent agent 

 studied the subject so that he could freely and intelligently 

 criticise the research programme, the requirements of the law 

 could be met, and at the same time the research itself would be 

 assisted beca..se of the emergence of fundamental principles. 



Ordinary Meeting, December 17th, 1920. 



Mr. J. H. Lester, M.Sc, F.I.C. (Chairman), in the Chair. 



Mr. David Brownue, B.Sc, F.C.S., A.I.Mech.E., introduced 

 a discussion on " Suggestions for a National Scheme 

 of Fuel Economy." 



The opener dealt in detail with the different practical 

 methods that are possible for carrying out a National Scheme 

 of Fuel Economy and the gist of the paper was, that for an 

 expenditure of about ^200,000,000 it would be possible to reduce 

 the coal bill of Great Britain by at least 50,000,000 tons of coal 

 per annum, valued at ^100,000,000. 



The lecturer dealt with a mass of figures which were, how- 

 ever, shown on twenty or thirty lantern slides so as to enable 

 the audience to follow the argument. 



He suggested that the first thing was to develop the water 

 power resources of Great Britain, which would save about 

 8,000,000 tons of coal per annum now used for power production. 

 Secondly, to develop to a proper extent the utilisation of blast 

 furnace gas, which would save at least another 5,000,000 tons 

 per annum. 



Mr. Brownlie then dealt in detail with the necessity of 

 bringing up-to-date the steam generation plants of Great 

 Britain, and he gave a mass of statistics relating to the per- 



