On the extravagant use of fuel in cooking operations : with a short account of Bejamin Count of Rumford, and his economical systems and numerous practical suggestions adapted for domestic use / by Frederick Edwards, jun.

  • Edwards, John Frederick.
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the extravagant use of fuel in cooking operations : with a short account of Bejamin Count of Rumford, and his economical systems and numerous practical suggestions adapted for domestic use / by Frederick Edwards, jun. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    PREFACE. understood. It is impossible for any one who makes the slightest examination not to see what an enormous deal may be effected, and this not by casting about for any thing entirely new in the way of invention, but solely by a systematic and energetic application of means that are within the command of every one who is sufficiently in- dustrious to search for and apply them, a mode of treat- ment that would work a transformation in other matters than the use of coal in kitchen fire-places. We are now recklessly, almost criminally, extravagant. Other nations are not so. The causes are not far to seek. Only let us resolutely 1 educe the heat radiated to waste in the kitchen apaitment, and the hot air sent rapidly away up the chimney, and the whole state of things becomes changed. Consumption may easily be reduced to a half, a third, or even a fourth. Count Rumford reduced it to less than a fifth, and if in the face of such a fact we have gone on in °ur extiavagant habits, this is simply because the difficulties which have to be encountered are altogether of another natuie than those which concern the public exposition of an improved system, and of the advantages attending it. Many may suppose that a manufacturer has it com- pletely within his power to bring an improved system into use. They are most entirely mistaken. A manufacturer has undoubtedly certain advantages over less interested persons. He is probably more practically familiar with his subject, and he may be stimulated to higher exertions by the hope of improving his business; but that it is really a profitable thing for a manufacturer to seek to improve on existing practice is almost invariably belied by facts. To bring about a change in any matter, there are generally years of uphill work, in which money has to be sunk instead of being made, and this does not suit the keen- siglited man of business. If this were not so, if it really