26 
explosions were worse than useless, because they diverted 
attention from the real source of danger. He believed that 
one of these hypotheses --that which attributed explosions to 
the introduction of water into a boiler the plates of which are 
heated in consequence of deficiency of Avater, Avas quite 
inadequate to account for the facts; although Aveak boilers 
might be exploded at the moment of starting the engine, in 
consequence of the swelling of the Avater through reneAved 
ebullition throwing hot Avater over the heated plates. The 
absolute necessity of employing the hydraulic test periodically 
had been pointed out so frequently that he considered that 
the neglect of it Avas highly criminal. 
A Paper Avas read by Mr. Thomas Hopkins, M.B.M.S., 
“ On the Influence of the Earth’s Rotation on Winds.” 
In this Paper the Author treated of the opinion generally 
entertained by writers on the influence of the rotation of the 
earth on winds that are passing over its surface, and proposed 
to sIioav that the atmosphere, in passing from polar tOAvards 
tropical latitudes, is not left behind by the more rapidly 
revolving parts, as has been generally maintained by 
meteorologists. In doing this he sliOAved that air, going 
from certain sloAvly revolving polar localities to others that 
revobve more SAviftly, is not left behind in the Avay that has 
been generally supposed. 
Extracts were given from Kaemtz and Herscliel’s Meteor- 
ology, to sIioav that these Avriters attribute the Avestcrn 
direction of the trade winds within the tropics to the 
increasing rapidity of the rotating surface of the globe over 
which they successively pass ; and the Author maintained 
that it Avas a mere assumption, unsupported by evidence, and 
Avas proved by numerous facts to be erroneous. 
On the eastern side of the tropical Atlantic, in the Gulf of 
Guinea, air passes tOAvards the east, not only Avithout being 
left behind by the great velocity of the surface, but Avith 
additional speed, as it constitutes a Avind bloAving briskly 
