482 
DEODOEIZING INDIA-EUBBEll. 
These facts are deserving of attention, for they show that gas leaking from the mains 
may be fired by a spark from a pick, or from the chipping of a hole in the pipe in laying 
a service. 
And now. Gentlemen, we have gone over the question of the phenomena of gaseous 
combustion, and of the manner in which gas is to be most profitably and most economi¬ 
cally used for illuminating purposes. We have also examined the thermotic powers of 
coal gas, and I hope if I have the opportunity of meeting you again, I shall be able to 
bring under your notice one other question of interest to gas engineers, and that is the 
profitable utilization of the waste products of gas-works. 
DEODORIZING INDIA-RUBBER. 
The extremely disagreeable odour attaching to india-rubber manufactures, and the 
power possessed by them of imparting a nauseous taste to liquids or other substances, 
has long been a difiiculty in the way of its use for many purposes for which india- 
rubber is peculiarly adapted. To obviate this evil many expedients have been resorted 
to, but none hitherto with perfect success, and this on account of the strong tendency 
which india-rubber has to acquire and retain odours. The new process, invented by 
Mr. S. Bourne, depends upon the still greater affinity possessed by charcoal, especiaUy 
animal charcoal, for all kinds of odours, and its great capacity for the absorption of 
gases. The practical difficulty lies in so using the charcoal as not to injuriously affect 
the articles with which it may be brought in contact, and this has now been overcome 
by very simple means. 
The mode of application necessarily varies according to the description of articles 
which are thus treated. Generally speaking, they are laid in shelves or trays in a hot 
chamber, with a thin stratum of charcoal beneath and on top, and exposed to a tempera¬ 
ture of from 120 to 180 degrees for from three to six hours, after which they are removed 
from the charcoal, having sustained no other alteration than the all-important one of 
being rendered devoid of smell and incapable of imparting any taste to liquids or other 
substances they may touch. Under proper management the most delicate textures can 
be thus dealt with without being impaired either in substance or appearance. The 
most convenient mode of applying heat is by hot water or steam surrounding the 
vessel or chamber in which they are placed. One very considerable advantage of this 
process is, that for a large number of vulcanized articles it can be carried on in co-ope¬ 
ration with the heating or curing by which the vulcanization is effected, and they leave 
the chamber at once free from odour. It is equally applicable to india-rubber in sheet, 
spread fabrics, or the garments or other articles made therefrom when fully made up, 
such as the ordinary “ macintosh ” clothing, air and water cushions, etc. The use of this 
process enables the inventor to produce his “ flexible diaphragms ” (which were first 
brought before the public at the Dublin Exhibition, where they obtained a prize medal) 
in so pure a state that they may be at once used with the most delicate wines and other 
liquids. The diaphragm itself is a contrivance for the division of casks or other vessels 
into two separate chambers, by means of a flexible partition, which fits to the upper or 
lower part of the vessel alternately, or into any intermediate position, so that whatever 
the quantity of liquor contained within it, the air (though still exercising its pressure 
through the medium of the diaphragm) is separated from it by an impervious shield, 
and thus the injurious effects of exposure to atmospheric influence are altogether 
avoided, and any portion of the liquor may be withdrawn at pleasure, and as often as 
may be, without any admission of air to the remaining portion. In this way vessels of 
wine and beer are stated to have been actually kept in constant use for six and twelve 
months without any fermentation or formation of acid resulting. It is equally applicable 
to other liquids for domestic use or for medicinal or scientific purposes, the fluid remain¬ 
ing as completely secured as if the vessel were actually full. 
An adjunct to this invention, and which admits also of independent use, is in the 
elastic valves, in two varieties—the one for giving vent to the products of fermentation, 
when desired; such as the carbonic acid gas generated by malt liquors, etc., the other 
for giving admission to air, so. as to enable the liquid to flow through the tap or other 
orifice. In the one case a circular disk of vulcanized india-rubber is made to cover a 
small opening through which the gas is free to escape, but meets in its passage with the 
