48 Dr Davy's Observations on Phosphorus. 



on any part of our island, we have as yet no means of determin- 

 ing. Whether or not all elevation has ceased along those ranges 

 of mountains which cross the country in a north-easterly direc- 

 tion, or diffuse themselves in partial ridges midway between 

 both seas, it would be extremely difficult to ascertain. On the 

 north and north-west coast only, is it likely that any very accu- 

 rate observations could be made. And chiefly on the coasts of 

 Ross-shire and Sutherland, from the proximity of the mountains 

 to the standard level of the sea, might we expect to ascertain if 

 any traces are observable of a still existing action of that force 

 which the whole character of the country shews to have, in early 

 times, so widely convulsed the highland districts of Scotland. 

 PouTOBELLo, April 1833. 



SOME OBSERVATIONS ON PHOSPHORUS. Bl/ JOHN DAVY, 



M. D. F. R. S., Assistant Inspector of Army Hospitals, 

 Communicated by Sir James Macgbigor, Director-Gene- 

 ral of the Army Medical Board. 



In the Number of the Quarterly Journal of Science for July 

 and December 1829, is a paper by Mr Thomas Graham on the 

 slow combustion of Phosphorus, in which he has given an ab- 

 stract of what was previously known on the subject ; and has, 

 besides, added several curious particulars, ascertained by himself. 



Before I was acquainted with Mr Graham's paper, I had 

 been engaged in a similar inquiry, the results of which I now 

 propose to give. Although the greater number of them accord 

 sufficiently with his, some of them are different, and a few of 

 them I believe are new. 



It is considered as a well estabUshed fact, that phosphorus 

 does not shine in oxygen gas at a temperature below 64>°. This 

 is stated by Mr Graham, and by Dr Thomson in his System of 

 Chemistry ; it is also stated, that phosphorus does not combine 

 with oxygen below the point of fusion. The results of my ex- 

 periments have been different. In some instances, in which I 

 have introduced phosphorus into oxygen obtained from chlorate 

 of potash, it has not shone in the dark between 60° and 80". 

 In others, it has shone very feebly, even more feebly than in com- 

 mon air ; the oxygen not having sensibly diminished in a volume 



