GENERAL NOTES. 473 
19. This vessel (supplier) is placed at a convenient height above the retorts, 
The flux mixture is composed of the following component parts, compounded or 
mixed together as described, being intermingled or held in suspension by a vehicle, 
such as kerosene, petroleum, naphtha, or turpentine, Kerosene is the best, and it 
can be recovered by distillation. 
In no sense of the word would kerosene play the part ofa flux. 
20. Making Flux Mixture.—Take of bismuth, 3 (dissolved by nitric acid); add 
antimony, I (dissolved in hot hydrochloric acid) ; sodium, 1 (held in kerosene), and 
tin, 4 (dissolved in nitric acid), Mix all the above and evaporate to dryness, then 
add nine-tenths of stock No. 1, and six-sevenths of stocks No, 2 and 3, and to this 
‘¢add kerosene to any required extent,” and put this flux mixture into the retort 
supplier, from whence it is injected intermittently into the retorts as hereinafter 
shown. 
In this paragraph we find that tin may be dissolved in nitric 
acid ; whereas we have always been under the impression that 
tin was converted into insoluble oxide of tin by nitric acid. It 
is also to be noted that kerosene is here used to any required ex- 
tent. 
21. Temperature of Flux Mixture.—The retorts and their contents should be 
heated to not less than a cherry-red heat to give the proper quantity and quality of 
the gas. The best working heat for the flux mixture for injection is 80deg; if 
under 5odeg. it is very lazy, if over 10odeg. it is volatile, 
22. Quality of Gas,—Gas of a greatly improved character, as compared with 
that ordinarily used, is then generated, and will be found very suitable for being used 
as illuminating gas for lighting purposes. 
23. Kerosene Recovered.—After generation in the retorts, the gas is led through 
a pipe or main answering to the hydraulic main of ordinary gasworks, and the con- 
densed vehicle is led to a recoverer. The function of this recoverer is to extract as far 
as possible the kerosene or other vehicle used in the retort supplier. 
Why not claim to extract it all ? 
24. Purifier, &c,—Ihe gas is led from the main to a purifier consisting of a 
series of network or fine-meshed filters, which are formed of wire net-work sieves, 
covered with red oxide of iron. one part hydrate of lime, five parts mixed well to- 
gether, and spread Jightly over the sieves about aninch thick, Entering the purifier 
at the bottom and issuing from the top, the gas is then led to and stored in a gaso- 
meter of any suitable construction, such as those used in ordinary gasworks, from 
whence it is supplied through mains fur general use. 
Iron and lime purifiers are supposed to remove sulphur and car- 
bonic acid, and cannot be wanted for this gas. 
25. Nature of Gas.—I would define my improved gas to be a metallic gas, de- 
rived from the dissolution of such ingredients as those contained in the before-going 
formulz. Ihave found that gas produced by my invention is of a dry nature, nearly 
incondensible, and is not affected by extreme cold. 
I may owe to the society an apology for asking its members to 
discuss this specification, but I am informed that a company has 
been formed, and that capital is subscribed to work this patent, 
and the shares of this company are sold at a premium, and I 
think that the public should be told by us that there is nothing 
introduced into the retort described that would produce an illu- 
minating gas except kerosene, and that the manufacture of kero- 
sene gas is in no way aided by the mixtures mentioned.” 
During the reading of the paper there were frequent bursts 
of laughter, and at its close an animated discussion ensued, in 
which severe strictures were passed on the patentee. 
Before the meeting separated Mr. Newbery said :—“I was 
once present at an experiment with Dixon’s gas. I saw the 
mixture made and put into the retort, During the operation of 
