Above the fire space on the top of the retort, which is 4 inches deep, is an arch of 9-in. fire-brick, above which ashes and sand are filled in to the depth of 6 inches above the top of the arch, and floored over with red brick. The retort door is lined with asbestos and fire-clay; it is made of steel plate, closing against a flanged iron frame, and held to its place by a spider, upon which is screwed down an arm swinging with the door and fastening to the frame; the frame is held to its place by two horizontal bars, walled in at the ends. This arrangement secures a tight joint when the door is closed; the stay-bars hold the frame, the bar holds the door to the frame and gives the fulcrum for pressure on the spider, while swinging with the door it is out of the way when not in use. The whole structure is protected by three buckstays of T iron on each side, securely joined by ¾-inch iron rods, furnished with nuts to allow tightening or loosening when necessary. The fire-brick escape-flue connects with the chimney; the dimensions are 16 × 14 inches in the clear; the chimney rests on sills of T iron, supported by brick pillars, and is lined with fire-brick for 6 feet above the retort, and is carried up to a total height of 30 feet. I have given so minute a description of this apparatus because it is an invention of which not only Dr. M. L. Davis, but his countrymen with him, may feel justly proud. It is the first cremation furnace that possesses the two cardinal requirements of a good incinerator; namely, cheapness and usefulness. The price of this apparatus is from $1200 to $1500; the European furnaces cost $3000 and more. The Davis furnace, moreover, uses less fuel than the European apparatus, whereby the expense of cremation is much decreased. Ordinarily, coke and hard or “steamboat” coal is used in this furnace, although (and this is an additional advantage) gas, oil, or any other heating material may be used. The quantity required varies somewhat, but the average amount necessary to heat the furnace and incinerate a body is 250 pounds of coke and 250 pounds of coal, or about one-fourth ton of fuel. The time occupied for complete incineration varies according to the condition of the body, but ranges from 45 minutes to one hour and a half. The furnace can be heated in six hours, but usually more time is occupied in heating, as there is less liability of injury to the furnace by rapid expansion.