LIGHTING AND HEATING AGENTS. 875 
THE RELATION OF ART TO MORALITY. 
BY MR. W. ADAMS. 
(Read March 14th, 1878.) 
LIGHTING AND HEATING AGENTS. 
ABSTRACT OF PAPER BY DR. OXLAND, F.C.S. 
(Read March 2Ist, 1878.) 

Dr. Oxtanp noticed the old lights of fifty years since, sketched the 
history of improvements in lighting materials, such as candles, 
vegetable, animal, and petroleum fluids, and likewise that of coal 
gas manufacture, adducing evidence of its very great importance, 
not merely in respect of lighting purposes, but also in reference to 
the great value of the by-products obtained from coal tar, &c. 
The future of gas-making was then considered in relation to the 
threatened interference of the rapid improvements being introduced 
in lighting with electricity ; and proof given of the value of gas as 
a heating agent for all domestic and some manufacturing purposes, 
as a substitute for and a great economiser of coal. In conclusion, 
Dr. Oxland observed: We have more light, but we want more 
still, both physical and mental. The little we have already obtained 
has converted the first hindrances of the primary gasmakers into 
desirable aids. To understand this we will just take the report of 
a single gas company; we will analyze it, and see what will come 
out of it. I refer to the report of the Birmingham Corporation 
Gas Works for 1877. The total amount of capital engaged is 21 
millions, serving 500 miles of mains with 2664 million cubic feet. 
The quality of the gas is 17:27 candles, equal to 24 candles better 
than parliamentary standard. Total value of products £453,727, 
of which £128,148 is nett revenue or profit, equal to 5:69 per 
cent. «In the course of the year we find, coals carbonized, 289,253 
pa: 
