272 
PROCEEDINGS OP THE VICTORIA INSTITUTE. 
causes the temperature in that medium to rise and this fact is 
made use of in this particular application. If we send a suffi- 
ciently strong current through a thin piece of wire the latter 
becomes red hot and if the current be increased will reach a 
white heat and eventually melt. To show this I have here, &c. 
***** 
A very striking example of the immediate result of such a 
simple experiment is the cigar lighter one of which I have 
here. 
***** 
You can easily imagine if a wire similar to the one I have 
experimented upon were imbedded in sand, glass, cement or 
enamel and the electricity applied how very hot that surround- 
ing material would become. This has been done and brought 
to a useful purpose in the heating of dwelling houses or in the 
cooking of food. It seems strange to feel as I have felt the 
temperature of a room gradually increase on account of a very 
unimportant-looking but ornamental plate hanging from a stand 
placed in some suitable position or to have your feet, warmed in 
the same peculiar manner. Electricity can be used in bed as a 
warmer, the hot bottle being kept up to the proper temperature 
very easily as may be imagined. It is being very successfully 
used, in ironing clothes and when it is understood that the iron 
keeps at one perfect temperature the whole of the time and that 
there is no changing of irons, it will beat once seen how con- 
venient it must be. I have here 3 irons of different shapes and 
if anyone doubts the temperature they may come up after the 
lecture and feel them. 
***** 
It is now not a f ar °ry to the kitchen and here we can see a 
decided change for the better to be made by the introduction of 
e ectricity. I do not think there is one person here who could but 
wish to see the day when the dreadful kitchen, such as is often seen 
m Trinidad, with its grimy coalpots and its general unsavoury 
appearance is a thing of the past, and something a little more 
wholesome instituted nearer or attached to the dwelling house 
where the cooking of the food could be easily supervised without 
the risk ot indisposition on the part of the lady of the house. 
»uch a state of things can be attained by the use of electricity, 
its m 1aVe 16re aS exam P les 8BV «ral cooking utensils heated by 
