Dr. Haldane diluted oxygen with both nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and observed the effect of the different mixtures on animals. The results were his reason for making the statement I have quoted. Mr. Miller argues that a mixture of air and carbon dioxide must be hygienic simply because you can go into it, remain a short time, and on coming out not feel any bad effect. The statistics of the British mines show that the amount of work is in proportion to the amount of air supplied. They find that 6,000 feet per man per hour is not too much, and they find, after one-third diminution of air, a diminution of work is apparent. Put a man in an atmosphere such as Mr. Miller has described, leave him there a month or 6 months, take him out and see what kind of a man you have, and what quality and quantity of work he has done, not simply place a man there one hour and then take him out, that will tell whether or not it is hygienic. I tried hard to get Dr. Angus Smith's book before I came to the meeting, only to find that it is out of print, but at any rate I have stated here that Roscoe and Schorlemmer give him as their authority, when they make this statement about it being premature to say that the smallest increase in the amount of carbonic acid may not be productive of toxic results. If that be the case, we ought to avoid even a small increase so that there will be no suspicion resting upon us. I have already spoken of Dr. Richardson's experiments in air freed of both carbon dioxide and other impurities, meaning organic impurity, and what he found. Regarding the production of cyanogen, I will tell you just exactly how I came to put that in. Several years ago I was sitting in a room in company with an eminent physician, where a stove was burning, and I made a remark about the oppressive atmosphere where a stove was used. He then told me about cyanogen being produced in the atmosphere, and I believe it is mentioned in some paper that was presented to the Royal Society, in London-I am going to try to get that paper to prove my thought. Mr. Miller stated that is impossible in the presence of excess of oxygen.

MR. MILLER—I said I did not find any authority for it.

MR. FERRIER-Well, any authority. We must remember this as regards the charring of the organic matter. Siemens, in describing the stove which he invented, said it was expressly constructed to meet the objection of throwing organic matter into the atmosphere in a charred or half consumed state. It is quite true that, if you bring cyanogen through a jet and apply a match to it, it burns, and complete oxidation takes place, but you must remember that you do not have such an atmosphere at the side of a stove when it becomes hot. It allows certain of the products of com

bustion to pass through the pores of the iron. You have not an atmosphere there containing an excess of oxygen and freed of organic matter, but a vitiated atmosphere. To demonstrate that, we have an instance before us almost every day in a stove with a Bunsen burner. Acetylene is a highly oxidizable substance that burns readily in the air, but we find when the flame flashes back into the mixer of a burner that then, even in the presence of oxygen and in going through a flame, acetylene gas passes off into the atmosphere of the room. So that, all objections considered, I will have to let that also stand. Mr. Roper has kindly given us a description of a burner with two flues, with an insulating space between. That is exactly what I adopted in trying it. Regarding Mr. McDonald. I think he has learned a good deal since he wrote a paper for the Ohio Association a few years ago, because he has contradicted a good many statements made in that paper. I read it carefully and was surprised to hear him make the statements that he did to-day. As regards deficiency of oxygen, Huxley and Youmans say, in their "Physiology and Hygiene," that it has not yet been determined which has the greater deleterious effect-the increase of carbon dioxide or deficiency of oxygen--but they distinctly state that both are to be avoided. The fact is this, it is a mistaken policy to belittle the things these scientists say, even though they may exceed the facts of the case in some instances. Wherever we find pegs to hang objections to the use of gas on, let us take those pegs out; that is what I say. I advocate meeting them on their own ground. 1 thank Mr. Butterworth for his remarks, which show that his views in general are in accordance with my own.

MR. MILLER-I wish to embody my personal appreciation and thanks to Mr. Ferrier for his paper, in that I move the hearty thanks of the Association be expressed to him for it, through bringing up a subject that has had entirely too little attention. (Adopted.)

ELECTION OF NEW MEMBERS.

The President called for the report of the Committee on the Election of New Members. Mr. William McDonald, for the Commitee, reported in favor of the election of the following candidates:

Active.

Aberdeen (S. D.) Gas Co.
Best, F. W., Brooklyn, N. Y.
Brown, R. B., Milwaukee, Wis.

Barron, A. M., Chicago, Ill.
Clapp, G. N., Middletown, O.
Cole, W. W., Elmira, N. Y.

Associate.

Transfers from Associate to Active.

Dickey, C. H., Baltimore, Md.

On motion, the applicants were duly elected by ballot, and the President, in announcing the result, asked Mr. D. McDonald, on his behalf, to welcome the gentlemen to the privileges of the Association. The

ROLL CALL

disclosed the presence of the following delegates:

Honorary Members.

White, W. H., New York City. Howard, J. B., Galena, Ill.

Active Members.

REPORT OF THE LIBRARY COMMITTEE.

Mr. William McDonald, from the Library Committee, submitted the following report, which was, on motion of Mr. Steinwedell, accepted and the recommendations contained therein adopted:

Your committee, appointed to formulate rules for the conduct of the library bequeathed to the Association by our deceased member, Mr. George Treadway Thompson, would respectfully report as follows:

I.

1. The library shall be known as "The Thompson Memorial Library of the Western Gas Association."

2. A standing library committee of five shall be appointed, composed of the President and Secretary of the Association, and three other members.

3. The Secretary of the Association shall be custodian of the library.

4. The committee shall have power to make rules for the proper conduct of the library, and to expend such sums as may be necessary to carry out these rules.