and other Wires in inflammable Media. i2l 



1 . Platinum wire continues red hot in explosive mixtures of in- 

 flammable gases. Also in the vapour of naftha, alcohol 

 and ether. I found it in like manner effective in nitric, &c. 

 ethers, as well as the sulphuric; in phosphorized ether and 

 alcoholic solution of camphor ; oil of wine, vapour of sid- 

 phuret of carbon, and of camphor. 



2. I discovered that gold, silver, steel, and copper wires were 

 phosphorescent, though they did not continue red hot in the 

 vapour oi ethers, oil of wine, and sidphuret <f curbo7i. 



3. Platinum wire and that of gold, silver, steel, and copper, 

 when phosphorescent in the vapour of ethers and oil of wine, 

 evolve a peculiar acrid acid gas, rendered sensible by the 

 contiguity of a stopper moistened with ammonia. This acid 

 gas acts violentlv on the eyes, exciting tears. 



4. A glass rod and piece of the stem of a tobacco-pipe will, in the 



vapour of ethers and oil of wine, be phosphorescent; and 

 in like manner contribute by this minimum combustion to 

 the formation of the acid gas in question. I need scarcely 

 add that, prior to the introduction of the wires, &c. into 

 the volatile inflammable medium, such should be made red 

 hot. 

 The phosphorescent flame is very livelily exhibited in intro- 

 ducing copper wire, &c. into phosphorized ether; and the pla- 

 tinum wire continues to glow very vividly over oil of wine, 

 until the ethereal matter is all expended in the production of 

 the acid gas, leaving a residuum, which seems to be a pecu- 

 liar flxed oil, coml)ining with potassa and soda, and highly 

 inflammal)le. Spec. gr. less than that of water. 



5. When gold wire entwines a coil of platinum wire, and the 

 wires are heated and plunged into the ethereal medium, the 

 platinum contiiuies to glow red hot, and the gold wire will 

 be seen dark aniong the threads of platinum. 



6. The phosphorescent flame exhibited under the preceding cir- 

 cumstances I did not find susceptible of igniting either ole- 

 fiant or coal gas, or phosphorized ether, sulphur, or sulphuret 

 of carbon. A jet of coal gas urged on platinum wire red 

 hot, in oil of wine, &c. caused it to glow more vividly. If 

 the platinum wire be depressed lower than the focus, where 

 the ignition is most intense, the phosphorescent flame will 

 be displayed, and the platinum will cease to l)e red hot. — 'i'he 

 display of jihosphorescence may be repeated fiec|uently, par- 

 ticularly with glass and alumina ; for at each successive im- 

 mersion it will be renewed. Two coils of platinum and steel 

 wires in contact, both previously made red hot and plunged 

 simultaneously into the vapour of ether, e\liil)it an inter- 

 esting appearance. In the first instance the steel wire will 



continue 



