A new system of practical domestic economy.

Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new system of practical domestic economy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    72/508 (page 56)
    in the theory of artificial light, that, when reflected by a parabolic mirror, this reflected light is greater in proportion to the diminution of the wick. This has been ascertained by the experiments of the French academy, when it appeared that an argand lamp of six lines diameter, gave a better light than one' of sixteen, consuming at the same time only half the quantity of oil. This improvement may be applied with great success to carriage lamps, particularly in travelling; and is not unworthy the notice of those metropolitan districts where gas illumination has not yet taken place. They have already begun to apply this principle to public use in France, and M. Bordier Marcet, the relation and successor of M. Ami Argand Marcet, the inventor of the lamps called after him, has made considerable improvements in regard to the lighting of public streets. The mayor of Valogne has certified that his lamps, with parabolic reflectors, give so good a light that a person may see to read with ease at the distance of one hun- dred and twenty yards; that they are very little affected either by rain or wind, and that the quan- tity of oil consumed by them is only one ounce and one-fifteenth per hour. Thus the whole town is now better lighted by eighteen of M. Bordier’s lamps, than it was formerly by forty on the old plan. This is certainly highly deserving notice, both in domestic economy and in parochial vestries, considering the very indifferent light in our streets, where the gas has no't yet been introduced. Mr. Brande considers ten-hole argand burners, each consuming about a cubical foot and a half per hour, and giving the light of seven wax can- dles, or nearly two oil argands, as the most econo-