METHOD OF INCREASING THE LIGHT OF CANDLES-. 



273 



•wick, and when viewed in a certain direction, it appears in 

 the form of* an obtufe angled triangle. And as the tmd of the 

 wick projects beyond the flame at the obtufe angle, it meets 

 with the air, and is completely burnt to allies; hence it is 

 rendered incapable of acting as a conductor to carry off any 

 part of the combuftible rrlatter in the form of fmoke. By this 

 fpontaneous mode of fnuffing, that part of the wick which is 

 acted upon by the flame, continues of the fame length, and the 

 flame itlelf very nearly of the fame flrength and magnitude *• 



The advantages which may be derived from candles that The light does 

 require no fnuffing and afford no fmoke, may be readily un- not un u ate * 

 derftood ; but thefe candles have another property which 

 ought not to be paffed over in filence. A candle fnuffed by 

 an inftrument gives a very fluctuating light, which, in viewing 

 near obje&s, is highly injurious to the eye ; and this is an in- 

 convenience which no fhade can remove. But when a candle 

 is fnuffed fpontaneoufly, it gives a light fo perfectly fleady and 

 fo uniformly bright, that the adjuftments of the eye remain at 

 reft, and diftincl vifion is performed without pain, and without 

 uneafinefs. 



Candles on which I have made experiments, are defcribed Candles which 



in the following were fu H> sfte ? 



to experiment. 



Numbers 1, 2, and 3. Thefe candles, when lighted and 

 )laced to form an angle of 30° with the perpendicular, require 



* The wick's not being uniformly twifted throughout, may occa- 



a little variation in the dimenlions of the flame. 

 Vol. III.— December, 1802. T 



no 



