of 'Flame and Gases. 403 



on rendering the magnet active, the flame became more and 

 more compressed and shortened ; and as the effects proceeded 

 to a maximum, the top at last descended, and the flame no 

 more rose between the magnetic poles, but spread out right 

 and left on each side of the axial line, producing a double 

 flame with two long tongues. This flame was very bright 

 along the upper extended forked edge, being there invigorated 

 by a current of air which descended from between the poles on 

 to the flame at this part, and in fact drove it away in the equa- 

 torial direction. 



When the magnet was thrown out of action, the flame re- 

 sumed its ordinary upright form between the poles, at once; 

 being depressed and redivided again by the renewal of the 

 magnetic action. 



When a small flame, only about one-third of an inch high, 

 was placed between the poles, the magnetic force instantly 

 flattened it into an equatorial disc. 



If a ball of cotton about the size of a nut be bound up by 

 wire, soaked in asther and inflamed, it will give a flame six 

 or seven inches high. This large flame rises freely and natu- 

 rally between the poles ; but as soon as the magnet is rendered 

 active, it divides and passes off in two flames, the one on one 

 side, and the other on the other side of the axial line. 



Such therefore is the general and very striking effect which 

 may be produced on a flame by magnetic action, the import- 

 ant discovery of which we owe to P. Bancalari. 



1 verified the results obtained by M. Zantedeschi with dif- 

 ferent flames, and found that those produced by alcohol, tether, 

 coal-gas, hydrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, and camphor were all 

 affected in the same manner, though not apparently with equal 

 strength. The brightest flames appeared to be most affected. 



The chief results may be shown in a manner in some re- 

 spects still more striking and instructive than those obtained 

 with flame, by using a smoking taper. A taper made of wax, 

 coloured green by verdigris, if suffered to burn upright for a 

 minute and then blown out, will usually leave a wick with a 

 spark of fire on the top. The subdued combustion will how- 

 ever still go on, even for an hour or more, sending up a thin 

 dense stream of smoke, which, in a quiet atmosphere, will rise 

 vertically for six or eight inches; and in a moving atmosphere 

 will show every change of its motion, both as to direction and 

 intensity. When the taper is held beneath the poles, so that 

 the stream of smoke passes a little on one side of the axial 

 line, the stream is scarcely affected by the power of the mag- 

 net, the taper being three or four inches below the poles ; but 

 if the taper be raised, so that the coal is not more than an inch 



2 D 2 



