Jpparatusfor the Comhujm of Hydrogen^ i^t, %^ 



IX. 



Defcrlption of a very fimple Apparatus for performing the great Experiment of producing Water 

 by-the Combujiioa of Hydrogen Gas. Invented by Mr. JOHN CVTHB£JiTSON *. 



A 



D B C, fig. 6, plate IX., reprefents the inftrument {landing in a velTel, abed, nearly 

 filled with water. 



A D is a large glafs bottle, holding about looo cubic inches of water, mounted at the top 

 with a brafs cap, which fcrews oft" at A. The rifing part at the bottom is bored through 

 and mounted with brafs, in which fcrews a piece reprefented by a b, fig. 7, having a part; 

 at one end which fits into the hole, and the other end a fliank with a fcrew at the bottom. 

 E F, fig- 6, is a ftraight bar of brafs ; B C are tw>> glafs receivers, mounted at the top with 

 trafs, each having a (hank which pafles through the brafs bar, and by means of a female 

 fciew is fcrewed fad to it : thefe mountings are perforated perpendicularly, and havealfo a 

 fide hole, which cor^efponds with a hole in the brafs bar, paffing from the (hank of each re- 

 ceiver; which hole alfo correfponds with two holes reprefcnted in fig. 7, communicating 

 with the infide of the large bottle. At L, M, in the brafs bar, are two air cocks, with holea 

 drilled through them in fuch a direction, that when the blades of the cocks (land length- 

 wife with the bar they correfpond with the holes in it. FR and E N are two ftraight ilat 

 pieces of brafs ; in each of them is a hole, through which pafs the ends of two fcrews, that 

 are fcrewed faft into the fides of the ve(rel containing the water, and confine the bars by 

 means of two female fcrews. O P is a long brafs wire, with a piece of platina wire a^ the 

 end P : this wire is fixed to the mounting at the top of the bottle, and is bended fo that the 

 end P ftands as near as poffible, but not to touch the fmall hole which pa(res through the piece 

 ab, fi;^. 2. 



When this inftrument is to be ufed, the large glafs muft be firft filled with oxygen gas 

 (or common air when mere, exhibition is iji tended) : this may be done either by means of an 

 air pump, or by filling it with waer, inveiting it and fufFcrinj; the air to afcend. When 

 either of thefe oper.itions is to be performed, it muft firft be detached from the receivers by 

 unfcrewing the two femafe fcrews 0.0^ All the other parts remain annexed to it, and care 

 Biuft be taken that the two air-cocks are fliut. When it is filled with the air required, it mufti 

 be fet upon the receivers, the mountings of which are marked, as well as the bar, and care 

 muft be taken that they are not mi'placed : the whole inftrument muft then be placed iri^ 

 the water velTel, as is reprefented. The receiver B has a hole about the middle.at U This 

 receiver muft be filled with oxygen gas, and C with hydrogen gas. When the airs or gafes 

 are to be lighted, eledtric fparks muft be made to pafs from the end of the platina to the : 

 hole in a continual furceflion ; and while thefe fparks are palhng, the cock L muft be openedi 

 by degrees till the air is feen to take fire; the ele(ftric fparks muft then ceafe, and the fize 

 of the (lame may be regulated by turning the cock either one way or the other. The otherr 

 cock muft then be fet either quite open, or partly fo, accordingly as you find the flame af.. 

 fefted by it. As you find the gafes decreafe. in the receivers, fill them by certain known-, 

 meafures, and continue the operation f. 



SCIENTIFIC 

 • Communicated by George Pearfon, M.D. F.R.S. &c. 



f The above deCcription wasdrawn up by Mr. Cuthbertfon. I find, upon examination of the apparatus at Dr». 

 Pearfon's houfe, that the hole throwgh which the hydrogen is inuroduced is made very fmall, but that the otherhote • 



Hhz. thtoujlt, 



