ON FULMINATING SILVER. 203 



fpoon IS too hot to be held by Its handle, the drop of water 

 poured into the palm of the hand is warm, but by no means 

 fcalding hot. 



Exp. 35. If a lar^e drop of water be formed at the end ofExp. 35. Drop 

 3 fmall fplinter of light wood, and the drop be thruft quickly J^ theTameVf a 

 into the center of the flame of a newly fnufFed candle, it will candle, is not 

 remain for a confiderable time in the center of the flame, ^^^^'^^ 

 without being apparently aflfeifted by the heat; and if it be 

 taken out of the flame and put upon the hand, it will not be 

 found to be fcalding hot. If it be held for forae time in the 

 flame, it will be gradually dirainifhed by evaporation ; but it 

 does not appear that the heat is communicated by the flame, 

 but by the wood to which it adheres, which is foon heated, 

 and at laft fet on fire. 



The remainder of the Count's memoir confifts of theoretical Why the thco- 

 remarks and inferences, occupying 29 pages of the Tranfac-''"'*^^' remarks 

 tions, I have endeavoured faithfully to defcribe the facts in abridged, 

 the way of abridgement, but cannot with the fame facility 

 do juftice to thefe argumentative refults. I (ball therefore, 

 for the prefent, conclude my account of his paper ; but may « 



not perhaps wholly overlook his theories upon fome future 

 occafion. 



XIII. 



Letter from Pmfejfor Veau-de-Launay to J. C. Dela- 

 METHERiE, Oil fulminating Silver*, 



jl\S it is at all times ufeful to fi:ate fads, whatever may be Accident with 

 the refults, I think it right to inform you of an accident which ^"^"^inating 

 occurred m my laboratory. 



I had employed one of my pupils, a very good operator, to 

 prepare a fmall quantity of fulminating filver, which he executed 

 with (kill. 



The quantity obtained was about five grains, or a quarter of 

 a gramme : it was depofited in a cryfial capfule about two lines 

 in thicknefs. He had taken a fmall quantity, about half a 

 grain, which was feparated with a card, and then dried, and 



- fFrom Jojurnal de Phyfique, &c. Fioreal, An. XIL 



afterwards 



