_Discussion._

The President said this was a very delightful paper; and nothing could
be finer than Mr. Lane's description of the conversion of heat into
power, and the gradual growth of theory into practical work.

Mr. W. Foulis (Glasgow) agreed that it was admirable; but it required
to be read to be thoroughly appreciated. When members were able to
read it, they would find Mr. Lane had given a very clear description
of the elementary principles of thermo-dynamics in their relation to
the gas-engine and the steam-engine. There was very little in the
paper to raise discussion; but Mr. Lane had made exceedingly clear how
the present loss in a gas-engine was occasioned, and had also shown
how, in the future development of the engine, the loss might be saved,
and the engine rendered more efficient.

Mr. H.P. Holt (of Messrs. Crossley Bros., Limited) said he could
indorse everything Mr. Lane had said. He had found the paper most
interesting and instructive even to himself, though he had some little
practical experience of gas-engines, and was supposed to know a little
about them. He did not pretend to be able to teach other people; but
if he could say anything as to indicator cards, or answer any
questions, he should be happy to do so. (He then described the
indicator diagram of the atmospheric gas-engine.) In this engine the
proportion of the charging stroke to the whole sweep of the piston was
about 10 per cent.; and as the charge drawn in consisted of about 10
per cent. of gas, about 1-100 of the total sweep of the piston was
composed of the gas.

Mr. Foulis asked what proportion the power indicated on the diagram