146 Dr Bishof's Examination of Three Inflammable Gases 



combine all the results of my investigations, it appears from the 

 evidence before us, that this pit-gas is composed of carburetted 

 hydrogen gas, olefiant gas, and nitrogen ; although the real 

 proportions of these constituents may perhaps deviate some- 

 what from those determined. If a little nitrogen should be 

 oxidised with tlie inflammable gases during the detonation, 

 the quantity of that gas would be made too small, and that of 

 the inflammable gases too great. A partial oxidation of the 

 nitrogen by the detonation of an inflammable gas, where there 

 is an excess of oxygen, is not only probable, but, from the 

 experiments of De Saussure, is hardly to be doubted. 



Physical and chemical examination of an inflammable gas which 

 is evolved from an Artesian well in the Principality of Schaum- 

 burg. 



Both the preceding inflammable pit-gases were evolved 

 from the oldest coal-formation. The gases which were pre- 

 viously collected in the English pits, and analyzed by Henry, 

 Thomson, Davy, &c were also, so far as I know, from the 

 oldest coal-formation. It therefore seemed a matter of in- 

 terest to make use of an opportunity which presented itself 

 to me of analyzing an inflammable gas from a much newer 

 coal-formation, viz. one belonging to the lias series. This gas 

 is evolved from an Artesian well, which was bored in a coal- 

 pit near Lieckwege, in the principality of Schaumburg. It 

 seems not to originate from a coal-bed ; for the bore was 

 carried to a depth of 180 feet below the bed which is mined, 

 without a second bed being traversed. In the neighbour- 

 hood of that bore, another bore has been even carried to a 

 depth of 242 feet without meeting with a second bed. The 

 gas is probably evolved from the slate-clay in which is the 

 bore. This can easily be understood, as the slate-clay found 

 there is very rich in carbonaceous matter. 



Upon the bore of the Artesian well, there is a pumping pipe. 

 The water flows aside from this pipe, and fourteen inches un- 

 der its upper end. The space above the water is always filled 

 with the inflammable gas. When lighted, it burns with a 

 bluish flame, which is only coloured a little yellow at the end. 

 If we cover the opening of the pump-pipe with a piece of wood, 



