JOURNAL 



O F 



NATURAL PHILOSOPHY, CHEMISTRY, 



AKD 



THE ARTS. 



MARCH i8oi. 



ARTICLE I. 



Experiments to determine whether or not Fluids be ConduEiors of Caloric. By TaOMAS 

 Thomsos, M. D. LeBurer on Chemiftry in Edinburgh. Communicated by the Author. 



AT is rather furprifing that the experiments publiflied by Count Rumford, in order to 

 prove that fluids are non-conduftors of caloric, fliould have been In the poflcffion of men 

 of fcience for more than two years, without any attempt cither to confirm or refute them. 

 Thefe experiments were conduced with fuch admirable fimplicity and ingenuity, by a man 

 of fuch acknowledged talents and candour, and of fuch well-merited celebrity, that they 

 might have been expedled to excite peculiar attention. The fubjeft, too, is of the higheft 

 importanse ; not only becaufe it is calculated to throw additional light on the nature of 

 caloric, but becaufe it is intimately conne£led with feme of the moft important operations 

 in nature. It is impoffible for us to inveftigate fpontaneous evaporation, rain, winds, the 

 changes of temperature in the atmofphere, and fome of the moft important phenomena of 

 chemlftry, at leaft with any chance of fuccefs, till we have fettled the previous queftion, 

 whether fluids be conduftors of caloric or not. Perhaps it will be faid, that this point 

 has been completely eftabliflied by Count Rumford. This is the very thing which I pro. 

 Vol. IV. — March 1 80 1. 3Y pofe 



