The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-10 00:00:00

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION AT DUNDEE.

, DUNDEE, MONDAT.

In point of importance, perhaps, no section of
the Association can vie with the chemical. In point of
popular interest. almost every other exceeds it. The expe-
riments are often extremely ingenious, and the results very
v.iluable, but their value can for the moat part be known
only to the initiated. From this description Mr. Spiller's
paper on the decay of stone was an exception. Mr.
Spiller's opinion is that the corrosive action of the
atmosphere on our public buildings is owing to the
sulphuric acids diffused through the air. Mr. Spence
alas took this view. The latter gentleman stated that 120
tons of sulphur were poured annually into the atmosphere
by the chimneys of Manchester. If they got rid of the
black smoke, they would have a still stronger acid than at
present. Mr. Spitler estimated that the combustion of a
ton of oral evolved nearly 701 b. of vitriol. Here, then,
is the source of the sulphates found in the loosened crust
of decayed stones. Fresh from the quarry, the stones of
Caen, Portland, and Bath contain scarcely a trace of sul-
phates, whereas they make the scrapings from the de-
cayed portions of the New Palace at Westminster bitter
to the taste. Among the places to which Mr. Spiller says
the aqueous solution of superphosphate of lime has been
successfully applied are St. John's Church, Woolwich;
the almshousesat Northfleet College ; the facade of the
Grand Hotel, Brighton ; and the Army Clothing Esta-
blishment, Woolwich. Protegees. Austad is of opinion
that appliances to save buildings from decay should be
made while the stone is in the quarry.
In the kindred section of Biology the public take
greater interest. It is perhaps to be regretted that the
interesting paper of Dr. Richardson, on " The extraordi-
nary effects of ether spray in destroying locally all feeling
and vitality," left no time for discussion. Dr. Richardson
is an excellent expounder. He showed the effect of the
ether upon hie own arm, which appeared to be completely
deprived of all sensibility. A portion of it might seem-
ingly have been cut out with a knife without giving pain
at the time.

Mr. E. Hay Lenkester is one of the several young men
who have made valuable contributions to the interest of
this meeting. A paper of his on the boring of limestone
by annelids was very interesting. The fact that soft and
tiny little molluscs can make their way into hard lime-
stone piers and riddle boulders and slabs on the sea-shore
is very remarkable. Mr. Lsnkester brought forward the
annelids, whose boring properties have been somewhat
overlooked. How do these small worms manage to per-
forate hard stones? The paper suggested that it was by
means of the carbonic acid excretions from their bodies,
and the mechanical action of the antenna—a view in
which most of the speakers concurred.
The display of philosophical instruments this year is
extremely limited. Probably more will be shown at the
soirie to-morrow. Mr. Ladd's dynamo-magnetic machine
and Sir W. Thompson's new electric machine are im-
portant accessions. Both are remarkable for economy.
Sir William compares his instrument to the " success-
ful merchant," who commenced life with • halfpenny
and realised in a month the handsome sum of U. Up
to • certain limit his small simple machine goes on
increasing in power without any additional expenditure.
Mr. Ladd's apparatus provides for the production of •
continuous electric light at no farther expense than keep-
ing the rotating wheels in motion. The cheap produc-
tion of electricity, and especially of electric light, may
prove • great benefit for lighthouse purposes, and an aid
to signalling generallT. Unfortunately, neither of these
papers left time for discussion. Mr. Ladd is to exhibit on
Tuesday • machine for the production of ozone. Hitherto
ozone has been obtainable only in small quantities. The
machine in question will, its said, yield • constant supply.
Its inventor expects that it will contribute to the perfec-
tion of the sugar manufacture.
To the study of the interesting question, Was man
originally savage? Sir John Lubbock, Bart., F.A.S.,
President of the Entomological Society, made an interest-
ing contribution.
Considerable discussion followed.