230 
BUITISH PIIAEMACEUTICAL CONFEEENCE. 
Exhibitions, the collection would be open to inspection at 17, Bloomsbury Square, 
London. 
Ball, E. W., Birmingham, 
Gore’s gas furnaces. 
Bunsen’s gas-burners, retort-stands, blowpipes, cork-borers, test-tube- 
holders, and tube supports. 
This furnace consists of a stout cylinder of fire-clay, about 10 inches high and 0 
or 8 inches wide, enclosed in a sheet-iron casing, to the lower and back part of 
which is affixed a short chimney: the casing is supported by three iron legs, about 
15 or 18 inches high. Inside the clay cylinder is placed a shorter and thinner clay 
cylinder or cupola, having three clay pegs projecting from its inner side near the 
top, for supporting the crucible. Both the cylinders are open at their ends, and 
rest upon the bottom of the iron casing. The outer clay cylinder is covered at the 
top by a thick circular plate of fire-clay, with a hole in its centre for inserting or 
removing the crucible, etc.; and this hole is closed by a plug of fire-clay. The iron 
casing has a large hole in the middle of its bottom part under the cupola, beneath 
which is fixed a peculiar corrugated gas-burner; so that the flame passes up inside 
the cupola, surrounding the crucible, then out at the top of the cupola, and down 
the outside between it and the outer cylinder, to a hole entering the chimney. The 
smallest-sized furnace will melt half a pound of copper, or six ounces of cast iron. 
One ounce of copper has been melted in it in 2| minutes, one ounce of cast iron in 
8 minutes, five ounces of copper in 4|- minutes, and three ounces of cast iron in 5 
minutes. The second-sized furnace will melt fifty ounces of copper, or forty ounces 
of cast iron; it has melted sixteen ounces of copper in 8 minutes. The furnace is 
portable, requiring no brickwork erections or fixed chimney; it may be used in any 
situation where gas is available; it is safe in action, free from dust, and produces 
no smoke. A further great advantage is “ the perfect accessibility Vv^hich it permits 
to the melted metal, and the protection of the fused metal from oxidation by means 
of the, layer offlame, which, during the action of the furnace, plays over the mouth 
of the open crucible, and excludes the atmospheric air. Thus the advantages of a 
covered crucible are gained, whilst the contents of the crucible are perfectly ac¬ 
cessible to examination or manipulation.” This also enables oxidable metals and 
alloys to be melted in an open crucible without the addition of a flux or reducing 
agent. The furnaces are suitable for jewellers, dentists, analytical chemists, and 
all persons requiring small crucibles quickly heated to high temperatures. 
Basfoed Chemical Works. 
Large model of works for the manufacture of Oil of Vitriol and other acids. 
This excellent model was made by a working man. 
Bevan and Fleming-, Biverjpool. 
Thermoterion, or heating apparatus for infants’ and invalids’ food. 
Bourne, Stephen. 
Patent flexible diaphragm for the preservation of liquids liable to be in¬ 
jured by exposure to air, patent elastic valves for controlling and regu¬ 
lating the passage of air, gas, etc. 
It consists of a thin membrane of a pure material, which being attached to the 
side of the cask or other vessel, divides the interior into two separate chambers of 
varying capacity. Being formed in size and shape to correspond with one half of 
the vessel, it lines, or fits tightly to either the upper or lower portion, according as 
the vessel is full or empty. When full, the diaphragm floating on the surface of 
the fluid, precludes evaporation, and shields it from contact with the air which is 
freely admitted above. Descending as the fluid is withdrawn, it protects the re¬ 
mainder to the last, and preserves the empty vessel from becoming foul or musty, 
so that a simple rinsing with warm water is all that is necessary to fit it for fresh 
use. The vessel to vv^hich the diaphragm is to be applied, must be specially pre¬ 
pared for its reception, but it may be employed wdth those of wood, metal, glass, 
china, earthenware, etc.; and these may be made to assume a highly ornamental 
form, suitable for the table or sideboard; or be of a rough or cheap description, 
