12 Proceedings of tlie Royal Society 
third of our lives, whether they are passed in the cottage or in the 
palace, in the open village, or the crowded city. 
When we pass from the flickering flame of a wood fire to rods of 
pine wood charged with turpentine — from the cylinder of tallow 
to the vase filled with oil — from wax lights to the flame of 
gas, and from the latter to the electric light, — we see the vast and 
rapid stride which art and science have taken in the illumination 
of our houses and streets. We have now obtained sufficient 
sources of light ; we require only to use it safely, economically, 
and salubriously. The method which we mean not only to recom- 
mend, but to press upon the public attention, unites the three 
qualities which are essential in house illumination ; but till our 
legislators and architects, and the leaders of public opinion, shall 
be more alive to the importance of scientific truths, in their practical 
phase, we can have no hope of its general adoption. True know- 
ledge, however, advances with time. Vulgar prejudices are 
gradually worn down, and in less than a century, whether we have 
the electric light or not, we shall have our artificial suns shedding 
their beneficial rays under the guidance of science. 
The present method of lighting our houses by burning the lights 
within its apartments, is attended with many evils. The intoler- 
able increase of temperature in well lighted rooms, whether they 
are occupied with small or large parties — the rapid consumption 
of the oxygen which our respiratory system requires to be 
undiminished — the offensive smell of the unconsumed gas — the 
stench of the oleaginous products of combustion — the damage done 
to gilded furniture and picture frames, — the positive injury 
inflicted upon the eye by the action of a number of scattered lights 
upon the retina, — and the risks of fire and explosion, — are 
strong objections to the system of internal illumination. About 
half a century ago I proposed to illuminate our houses by 
burning the gas externally, or placing it within the walls 
of the house, or in any other way by which the products of 
combustion should not vitiate the air of the apartment. The plan 
was received with a smile. It had not even the honour of being 
ridiculed. It was too Quixotic to endanger existing interests, or 
tread upon vested rights. Owing to the extended use of gas, 
however, its evils became more generally felt, especially when large 
