18 
LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
plenty of scope for further investigation into the geology of petroleum. The oil is not 
confined to any particular strata, but is found in rocks of all ages, from the lower Silu¬ 
rian to the Tertiary period inclusive, and is accumulated in fissures in the rocks, and these 
fissures appear to be more vertical than horizontal, and probably extend through different 
strata. Mr. Tate then mentioned the different theories which have been propounded re¬ 
specting the origin of petroleum, and, in the course of his remarks on the distillation 
theory, described the composition of petroleum and the oils produced by distilling coal 
at low temperatures; and showed that although the two oils are similar in some respects, 
yet there is some difference in their chemical composition. Another theory referred to 
was that which supposes petroleum to have been derived from the decomposition of vege¬ 
table matter by a process of decay or fermentation. Reference was likewise made to the 
probability of petroleum having been, in some cases, of animal origin, this supposition 
being rendered likely by the fact that the oil is frequently found in the Palaeozoic rocks, 
which contain no traces of land plants, but only the remains of marine plants and ani¬ 
mals. The tissues of the lower marine animals are very similar in chemical composition 
to the woody fibre of plants, and therefore would be likely to yield similar products. 
Dr. J. B. Edwards delivered a short address on Mr. Charles Wye Williams’ theory of 
the generation of steam. He supported the theory, and illustrated his remarks by ex¬ 
periment. 
A short discussion ensued, in which Mr. Abraham, Mr. Ellerbeck, and other members 
took part, but they spoke against Mr. Williams’s theory. 
Some experiments on the Refraction of Light u r hich were to have been performed by 
Dr. Edwards could not, owing to an accident, be shown. 
The President then proceeded to deliver his closing address.* 
At the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks was passed to the President for it, 
and also for his services during the session. The thanks of the meeting were also 
awarded to Dr. Edwards and Mr. Tate for their communications. 
LEEDS CHEMISTS’ ASSOCIATION. 
The Fifth Ordinary Meeting was held on Thursday evening, May 21, at the Town 
Hall; the President, T. Harvey, Esq., in the chair. 
Mr. William Huggon was elected a Corresponding Member. 
Mr. Reynolds exhibited some fine Scammony -roots from the neighbourhood of Aleppo, 
and Civet from Gondar, in Abyssinia. 
The President introduced the subject of “Provincial Minor Examinations.” He said 
that he did not wish to commit the meeting to a formal resolution upon the subject, 
but it was one that deserved the serious consideration of the members. It was his own 
conviction that it was desirable, and would soon become necessary for the Pharmaceutical 
Society to institute “ Provincial Examinations,” at least for the minor diploma. If 
the Pharmaceutical Society was to become the one legally constituted and privileged 
body, representing the chemists and druggists of Great Britain, the rising generation of 
chemists ought not to be debarred from access to it, as must be the case so long as the 
minor examination entailed a journey to London and some period of residence there, 
besides the necessary fees. No doubt many would rest satisfied with this first examina¬ 
tion, and would enter into business on the strength of it; while the more qualified and 
enterprising men would go up to London, pass the major examination, and become full 
members. The creation of two permanent classes in the same institution might be 
undesirable per se; perhaps, however, careful deliberation might remove the objection 
to it; but, at any rate, he would regard it as an alternative to be preferred to the one 
which left outside the pale of the Society the bulk of those who ought to be included. 
Mr. Thompson confessed that he was surprised that this subject had not received at¬ 
tention from the Pharmaceutical Society. When he saw every University in England, 
whether the venerable one of Oxford or that of London as representing more closely mo¬ 
dern intellectual advancement, equally engaged in bringing into the provinces facilities 
for testing the quality of education, he felt that any institution of modern establishment 
* The President’s Address is unavoidably postponed till next month.—E d. 
