June 28, 1873.] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
1045 
remaining quantity of steam being thus decomposed ; and 
from this point the gas is treated precisely in the ordinary 
manner and stored in holders, it being in all respects a 
permanent gas. It is intended to utilize this gas by 
itself, as a heating gas ; but its chief use is for illumina¬ 
tion, and the necessary luminosity is obtained in the same 
manner as with air-gas, the gas being caused to bubble 
through some light spirit, any reduction of temperature 
by the rapid evaporation being avoided by maintaining 
the vessel containing it at a constant temperature by 
means of a steam-pipe. The illuminating power of the 
gas so obtained is equal to about sixteen or seventeen 
candles ; and its permanent character is declared to be, 
and no doubt is, quite sufficient to render it of some prac¬ 
tical utility. Let it, however, be borne in mind that no 
more union has taken place between the vapour of the 
hydrocarbon and the permanent gaseous mixture than in 
the case of the carburation of air, both gases taking up 
precisely the same quantity of vapour at the same tem¬ 
perature, and both being equally liable to be affected by 
changes of temperature, or other changes of circumstances. 
The whole of these carburetted gases are, of course, to a 
very large extent free from those impurities which are 
usually found in coal gas. 
A suggested application of this principle of carburation, 
as an adjunct to the ordinary manufacture of gas, has 
many favourable points ; for coal gas may most certainly 
be as successfully carburetted as either air or hydi'ogen 
and carbonic oxide, and it is quite possible to produce an 
exceedingly large yield of poor illuminating gas from coal, 
the luminosity of which might be brought up to the ordi¬ 
nary standard by partially carburetting the gas with some 
light hydrocarbon, the presence of a less quantity of 
vapour being requisite in a given bulk of gas, and hence a 
successful result would be more easily obtained, as the 
vapour would only have to raise the luminosity from a 
lower to a higher point, and not to do the whole work of 
illumination itself. A very large yield of gas from coal 
may be obtained by working at a high temperature, or at 
the ordinary temperature if a jet of steam be introduced 
into the retorts during the carbonization, it having been 
found possible to obtain by this latter method as much as 
52,000 cubic feet from a ton of coal of an illuminating 
power equal to four candles. 
In the preceding remarks an endeavour has been made 
to state and examine the claims of each of the processes 
brought forward in a clear and impartial manner. The 
extravagant statements and impossible theories sometimes 
put forward often obtain credence and support because 
those hearing them have seldom the necessary knowledge 
of the rudiments of chemistry or physical science to com¬ 
bat or disprove them; and very often such statements 
themselves are made in ignorance, and not with intent to 
■wilfully mislead, by those who would be glad to state the 
truth if it were presented to them in a clear and succinct 
manner. Most schemes of this nature are open to con¬ 
clusive proof with regard to their value and practicability, 
and in some cases this proof will be entirely to their ad¬ 
vantage, and should not be shunned by their promoters. 
The introduction of so many new inventions just now, 
■with regard to the manufacture of gas, indicates a great 
want somewhere, and if such a want exists it cannot be 
long before it is met and satisfied. Whether any of these 
present schemes are tending toward this satisfaction it is 
premature to say; this much may, however, be said, that 
hasty condemnation upon insufficient evidence is as much 
to be lamented and avoided as exaggerated and untruthful 
statements. 
All mention of the commercial success of any of the 
above inventions has been avoided, as it was not intended, 
at the outset, to make this paper anything but an exa¬ 
mination from a scientific point of view of such inventions. 
Doubtless there are those who are able to form an excel¬ 
lent judgment upon such matters as comparative cost of 
material, plant, labour, etc.; and this part of the subject 
must at all times have an exceedingly important influence 
upon any expressed opinion as to the profitable nature of 
such undertakings. 
parliamentary an& $mecMitp. 
HOUSE OF COMMONS. 
Shop Hours’ Regulation Bill. 
Tuesday , June 24. 
The following petition against the Shop Hours’ Regu¬ 
lation Bill was presented by Mr. W. H. Smith :— 
“ To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and 
Ireland in Parliament assembled. 
“ The petition of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great 
Britain humbly sheweth, that your petitioners view with 
considerable alarm a Bill now before your honourable 
House for regulating the hours of labour of children, 
young persons, and women in shops. 
“ Your petitioners represent the chemists and druggists 
of this country, who are compelled to supply at any time 
whatsoever, when required, medicines for the alleviation 
of human suffering and the saving of human life ; and the 
provisions of the said Bill, which would render it compul 
sory to close the shops at which such medicines are usually 
obtained for half a day in every week, and prevent assis¬ 
tants and apprentices under twenty-one years of age 
supplying medicines in such shops on several days in the 
year, would cause great inconvenience, and hardship not 
only to your petitioners, but to the public. 
“Your petitioners venture humbly to express their feel¬ 
ing of dismay at seeing such attempts as are made by this- 
Bill to draw sharp lines not only between masters and 
servants, but also between parents and children, and pre¬ 
dict the worst possible consequences from such legislation. 
“ They therefore humbly pray your honourable House to 
reject the said Bill. 
“ And your petitioners will ever pray, etc.. 
“ Sioned on behalf of the Pharmaceutical Society of 
Great Britain, 
“ Thomas Hyde Hills, President. 
Petitions against the Bill were also presented from 
Margate, Canterbury, and Ipswich, and one in its favour 
from Rochdale. ., 
The second reading of the Bill is again postponed until 
Tuesday, July 1. 
Prosecutions under the Adulteration Act. 
Alum in Bread. 
At the Nottingham Town-hall, on Tuesday June 
24th, a baker of the town, named George. Gill, was- 
charged, under the new Adulteration Act, with selling 
adulterated bread and flour. On the 7th of May. last the 
officer appointed under the Act went to the defendant s 
shop and purchased a loaf and a small quantity of fioiir, 
which he took to the borough analyst, Dr. Truman, who 
analysed them, and found alum in the flour to the amount 
of 10 grains to a 41b. loaf, and in the bread at the rate ot 
264 grains, thus rendering the articles injurious to heait . 
Mr. Belk who defended, urged that the defendant 
when purchasing the flour had no means where y o 
detect the presence of alum. , ., 
The Town Clerk, who prosecuted, was willing to admit 
that, but contended that the Act of Parliament threw the 
responsibility of knowing that the articles they sold were 
pure upon the retail dealers, who could have their reme y 
in prosecuting the wholesale dealer and suing him tor 
damages. , . 
The bench took a similiar view of the case, biit, as tins 
was the first conviction under the Act, inflicted the 
mitigated penalty of 40s. Notice of appeal was gi\en. 
At Lambeth, on Tuesday, June 24, three cases under 
the Adulteration of Food Act were heard. Mr. Marsden* 
Yestry Clerk of Camberwell, attended to prosecute. 
