Tlie New Bloiv-pipe — Refraction. 463 



THE NEW BLOW-PIPE. 



Sir, — The i)ew blow-pipe, acting by a stream of condensed 

 oxvgen and hydrogen, has deservedly excited much interest: 

 ,a detail of some experiments effected by means of this power- 

 ful instrument may prove interesting. I am following them up ; 

 and may merely liiention, meantime, that the oxygen was ob- 

 tained from oxy muriate nfpotassa, and the hydrogen from z/wr, 

 &c. The proportions, such as form the constituents of water : 



1 . Platinum as thick as a stocking wire was inslantlij fused, 

 scintillated, and fell in a large globule, 



2. Vau.a'bwju fused instantly, and slightly scintillated. 



3. A WATCH-SPRING melted with most splendid coruscations ^ 

 fused into a large globule, and even boiled rdolently. 



4. Pure caustic alumina and magnesia burnt with inde- 

 scribable brilliancy, exhibiting a splendour of light rivalled 

 only by the sun. 



5. Part of a tobacco-pipe burnt vividly, and was fused into 

 class. 



6. A piece of indigo exhibited a beautiful and intensefiame, 



7. A fine electric tourmalin grew red hot, instantly fused, 

 ai\djlamed. — It did not forgo its electric powers. * 



8. The diamond, in a groove of charcoal, was submitted to 

 its influence : — In a short time it became red hot, then burst 

 INTO flame; and, when dislodged from its nidus, it fell upon tlie 

 table, and continued a second or two in actual fame. 



Through Dr. Clarke, the cheniist has received an agent of the 

 most extraordinary powers of ignition. Anticipation augurs in 

 " breathless expectation" the most brilliant results. Man is 

 only in the infancy of his being ! 



I am, respectfully, Sir, 



Your most humble servant, 

 Surry Institution, Dec. 24, 1816. J. MuRRAY. 



P.S. A mass of percarburet of iron (plumbago) gave 

 ))eautiful minute sparks, and wan fused. 



Rock crystal decrepitated violently. At this moment an ex- 

 plosion of the condensed gases took place, and the instrument 

 was rendered useless. 



This accident suspends for the present a continuation of the 

 experiments ; but the chemist must smile at danger when such 

 brilliant results rise up in prospective, J. M. 



REFRACTION. 



Sir, — It has often occurred to mc, on reading Sir Isaac New-p 

 ton's 14th query at the end of his " Optics," that some interest- 

 ing 



