182 REPORT—1845, 
loon, and therefore that 43304°76 cubic inches have passed through the mu- 
riatic acid. The examination of the muriatic acid used in the experiment 
gave 0°198 grm. chloride of platinum and ammonium, corresponding to 
0°0152 ammonia. If we assume as the composition of the gases that formed 
at a depth of eight feet, we can easily calculate the quantity of coal necessary 
to produce the above 43304°76 cubic inches of gas. According to analysis, 
1000 cubic centimetres of this gas contain 5477 cubic centimetres of nitro- 
gen. We have already seen that nitrogen is not produced from the materials 
introduced into the furnace, and hence all the amount present must have 
been introduced by the blast as atmospheric air, which, burning before the 
tuyére, mixed with the gaseous products of distillation in the upper parts of 
the furnace, and produced the above 547°7 cubic centimetres of nitrogen. 
But as this amount of nitrogen is derived from atmospheric air, it implies that 
143°84 cubic centimetres, or (*2066 grm. of oxygen has been consumed in 
the lower part of the furnace by uniting with 0°1549 grm. of coke, in the 
formation of carbonic oxide. But, as has already been shown by a previous 
experiment, 0°2304 grm. of coal must have been distilled to produce the 
0°1549 grm. of coke; and as the above quantity of coal is required to gene- 
rate one litre of the above gaseous mixture, 163°5 grm. must have been em- 
ployed in the generation of the 43304 cubic inches of gas washed by the 
muriatic acid. Hence it follows that only 0°0093 grm., or 3°77 per cent. of 
the ammonia generated from 100 parts of the coal (which according to our 
experiments amounts to 0°2463 grm.) pass over along with the gases; so that 
the remaining 0°2370 grm., or 96°23 per cent. of ammonia, must have been 
condensed in the water of distillation found in the tube. In fact we ascer- 
tained that the lead tube contained a clear liquid so strongly charged with 
ammonia as instantly to render blue reddened litmus paper held over it. 
These experiments prove how easily the ammonia might be condensed, even 
without the intervention of an acid. 
It will be observed that the gases from the inferior parts of the furnace 
contain cyanogen, the presence of which is highly interesting, not only in a 
theoretical, but also in a practical point of view. This gas appears imme- 
diately over the point of entrance of the blast, and again disappears at a 
sinall elevation above it, so that at the top of the boshes only traces of it are 
observed. The compound of this substance with potassium appears to play 
a most important part in the furnace, although its functions have apparently 
been altogether overlooked. This is the more surprising, as it has long been 
known that cyanide of potassium effloresces on the walls in certain states of 
the furnace. We have been fortunate enough to elucidate the conditions of 
its formation and to fix its region in the furnace. In obtaining information 
with regard to the formation of this cyanogen gas, it was necessary to with- 
draw the gases from the vicinity of the hearth of the furnace, and through 
the kindness of Mr. Oakes we were enabled to bore a hole over the Front of 
the furnace two feet nine inches above the level of the tuyére. As soon as 
this hole was made a gas issued from it possessing strong illuminating powers, 
and burning with a yellow flame, from which came abundant vapours of white 
smoke. On introducing an iron pipe into the hole, without allowing it to 
pass into the furnace, it was retained sufficiently cool to prevent its fusion, 
and we were enabled to collect the volatile products. The gases which poured 
out of this tube under a pressure of several feet of water were so richly laden 
with vapours of cyanide of potassium, that we were obliged to use precautions 
in approaching its opening, so as not to suffer injurious consequences from 
this poisonous material. Although the conducting-tube was twenty-two feet 
in length, the amount of cyanide of potassium carried along with the gas was 
