I860.] Physical Science. 731 



In giving a notice of the papers read before this Section, space 

 compels us to confine our remarks to those subjects only which have 

 not before been treated of in these pages, and which appear of general 

 interest. 



The first day's proceedings commenced with the report of the 

 Electrical Standards Committee, which was read by Mr. Fleeming 

 Jenkin. In it were described the steps which had been taken with a 

 view of obtaining an unvarying standard, and the subsequent distribu- 

 tion of coils, each expressing the British Association standard of 

 electrical resistance. If these coils retained their value some confidence 

 might be felt in the permanence of the unit they had arrived at. 

 There were differences in the unit obtained by silver wire, &c, and 

 the unit obtained by means of mercury, but it might be expected 

 these differences would eventually disappear. The coils had been dis- 

 tributed widely, so that they would be available to actual electricians, 

 and the telegraph companies had opportunities of using them. The 

 unit had been introduced into India and our Colonial possessions, 

 but it would take long before it was adopted on the Continent. 



Mr. James Glaisher next read the report on " Luminous Meteors." 

 He said the subject included the familiar appearance of shooting stars 

 and fire-balls ; and it was one which, long neglected, yet merited the 

 consideration of those best able to speculate upon it. But few such 

 appearances have been observed during the past year, partly owing to 

 the presence of clouds, and partly to the absence of certain of the 

 meteors usually seen in January, April, and August. A set of maps 

 had been completed for the use of the committee, and they were pre- 

 sented with that report. Various instances were given of the appear- 

 ance of meteors, and reference was made to the sound caused by them, 

 a phenomenon which, it was hoped, would be explained by continued 

 observation. Mr. Newton conjectured that these meteors were not 

 fragments of old worlds, but that they were composed of matter out of 

 which new worlds were forming. The committee hoped the grants 

 would be continued, so as to enable them to add to the catalogue of 

 nearly 2,000 meteors contained in the maps of the Association. 

 Accounts were then rendered of different "fire-balls" which had been 

 observed, and Mr. Glaisher concluded by referring to some of the 

 details given in the appendices. 



After a paper by Mr. Sabine, " On a new Method introduced by 

 M. Siemens, of measuring Electrical Besistance," Mr. Hooper intro- 

 duced the subject of " India-rubber as an Insulator for Telegraphic Con- 

 ductors." He detailed the difficulties which had opposed the successful 

 adoption of india-rubber insulation, and showed how he thought it 

 might be advantageously adopted. In a certain stage of india-rubber 

 manufacture, and under certain conditions, it became susceptible to 

 decay ; but there were means of securing a perfect insulation by india- 

 rubber, and it had peculiar qualities which made it specially suitable 

 for telegraphic cables. Twenty per cent, more messages could %e sent 

 by a cable insulated with india-rubber, than could be sent by one 



VOL. II. 3 D 



