THE FLOW OF SOLIDS. 243 
d d were double-pointed tacks stuck into the top of the beeswax and 
paraftin, and at @ and ¢ two old silver 3-cent pieces were laid on top of 
the wax and the paraffin in the cylinder. 
Fic. 4.—Diagram showing experiment. 
What are we to expect? The silver pieces and tacks would fall 
through the liquid wax and paraffin, and Band C, if liquid, would mix. 
Nay, according to Spring’s results, we should expect to find along the 
lower part of the mold a semicylindrical piece of an alloy of lead, anti- 
mony, bismuth, possibly silver and iron, and above this the mixture of 
paraffin and wax. The actual result was that the substances all came 
out just as they went into the press. There was not the slightest trace of 
a tendency to flow on the part of the metals; the lead and antimony re- 
mained as they were, the bismuth acted precisely as did the antimony 
in test II. There wasno sign of fusion of the wax and paraffin, which 
separated on their surface of contact (between B and C) clear and dis- 
tinet. a,c, d, and d did not sink to the bottom—on the contrary, they 
retained their original positions; and the silver pieces were forced 
against the top of the cylinder so powerfully that their impression left 
in the steel holder was easily seen and felt, and the pieces were bent 
eylindrical, fitting the inside of the holder. Here we find a much greater 
rigidity of wax and paraffin under pressure than ordinarily supposed 
possible under any circumstances. 
Nowhere was there a sign of true liquefaction. The wax and paraffin 
had acted only as viscous solids, and flowed only to fill the available 
opening. 
FIFTH TEST. 
In a similar way the following substances were subjected to a pres- 
sure of 6,000 atmospheres, with the results as stated: 
Sodium carbonate, dry.—Stuck together slightly, resembling chalk; easily cut with 
a knife. 
Sodium sulphate.—Probably dissolved in its water of crystallization (10H 20): it was 
forced out between the halves of the holder as a milky liquid which solidified. 
The little left in the holder resembled paraffin in appearance, but soon weath- 
ered toa white powder. 
Zine sulphate (+ 7H,0O).—No signs of fusion; merely stuck together; the original 
pieces of crystals easily visible. 
Copper sulphate (-+-5H.O).—Same as zine sulphate. 
SIXTH TEST. 
Potassium chloride.—Formed a hard lump, whose fracture resembled that of loaf 
sugar or that of marble, with the original crystals visible; no trace of fusion, 
Sodium chloride.—Similar to potassitm chloride, only a little more compact. 
