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28
tion of ammonia compounds, and by the removal of sulphur
in other forms than that of sulphuretted hydrogen. The
hydrated oxide of iron is also less foul than it usually is, and
is capable of revivification without causing annoyance; while
the hydrate of lime is actually inoffensive, for it contains
nothing but carbonic acid and sulphocyanogen, with; a little
sulphide—the carbonic acid being absorbed from the gas, and
the sulphocyanogen and sulphide produced by the reaction of
ammonia on bisulphide of carbon in the presence of caustic
lime. Mr. Hawksley will tell you, what I also know from
experience, that by these means the amount of sulphur in
coal gas is easily and certainly feduced to about 10 or 12
grains per 100 cubic feet of gas. It is easy, as I have said,
to meet this question by a numerical argument, and to show,
by a mathematical process of reasoning, that the amount of
sulphur in gas may be made to vanish to almost nothing;
but T would rather examine the practical or experimental
facts, and endeavour to remedy what is, among practical
men, an acknowledged evil, by applying those remedies which
are clearly within our reach."
Extract from the Report of Mr. A. J. Bay lis to the Commissioners
of Sewers, dated 25th February, I860.
To the Commissioners of Sewers of the City of
London.
Gentlemen,
Great Central Gas Company.
have the honour to report that, having in pursuance of
your instructions, taken proceedings against the above Com-
pany for supplying gas of a quality inferior to that prescribed
by the Metropolis Gas Act, 1860, the case came on for
hearingbefore Mr. Alderman Stone, at the Guildhall
Justice oom, on the 23rd instant. The proceedings were
taken according to the invariable practice, in the name of