1835.] between Bodies by the Action of Heat. 255 



this may hold good with any law, provided the law be the 

 same for attraction as for repulsion. 



On the application of heat a greater intensity of repulsion 

 is excited ; if we could ascertain the law of its increase with 

 the distance and increase of temperature, we might thence 

 infer the law both of attraction and repulsion between the 

 surfaces ; and thence, (if the expression be integrable,) that 

 between the molecules of the substances. 



All this, as just observed, takes place only within a certain 

 range of interval. When the central black is formed, we 

 seem to have arrived at a limit where attraction prevails ; 

 and where the application, even of great heat, will not 

 easily overcome it. 



The close contact of a glass and liquid in capillary attrac- 

 tion appears to be within this limit ; for here, in several 

 cases referred to in my paper, it appears that no application 

 of heat can overcome the attraction. 



With respect to one of those experiments, viz : that of 

 Sig. Libri, which I had stated I could not succeed in repeat- 

 ing, I have since been informed that the experiment will 

 succeed, provided the heat applied to the wire be that of a 

 flame urged by a blowpipe. This, at any rate, proves the 

 great intensity of the attraction, which requires so extremely 

 high a degree of heat to overcome it. 



Oxford, Feb. 17, 1835. 



Article III. 



On Spirits. By Andrew Steel, M. D. 

 ( Continued from p. 228.J 



The greatest condensation takes place in the mixture of 

 1 atom of alcohol, and three of water : experiments made 

 with a view of determining this point with more minute- 

 ness, seem rather to indicate it as slightly above this. 



or between 3 atoms and 3* 1 



