194 ON THE DECOMPOSING POWER OP HOT STEAM. 
In February last, this gentleman delivered a lecture be- 
fore the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, on The 
decomposition of salts by hot steam," an abstract of which 
was published in the Journal of that Society for March last, 
in which, after dwelling on the various modes of over- 
coming chemical affinity in the processes of decomposition, 
he has explained the discoveries and partof the applications 
of Mr. Tighlman, and it is from that paper that the accom- 
panying figure, illustrating the soda process,'^ together 
with some of the statements herein made, have been taken. 
The main exertions of the patentee at the present time, 
are directed to the perfection of the soda process, as being 
the most directly important, although the potash one, should 
he succeed in bringing it to an equally practicable state, 
must eventually become of prime importance. 
The chief difference between the first and the present pro- 
cess for making soda, consists in avoiding the use of retorts 
altogetlier. Equal quantities of chloride of sodium (salt) 
