1317.) On the Decomposition of the Earths. 95 
their fusion was so rapid that I feared they would volatilize. They 
ran together into a bead, and remained in such a liquid state before 
the gas, that the current of it penetrated like a stream of air upon 
oil, when urged by a pair of bellows. The bead when examined 
was white and opake ; all colour having disappeared. It was then 
again exposed to the ignited gas, and being taken from the charcoal, 
by iron forceps, its surface was covered with a thin flaky metallic 
substance, which came off upon the fingers, glittering like scales of 
the carburet of manganese, before mentioned. Being a third time 
fased, it assumed a variety of shapes, like sapphire during fusion. 
As its bulk seemed to be now diminished, the operation was con- 
eluded : the bead when cold exhibited a pale pink colour ; probably 
owing to a small portion of silex. In this state it was returned to 
Dr. Wollaston. 
10. Reduction of Tin Oxide—This affords an easy and very 
pleasing experiment. /Vood-tin exposed to the ignited gas commu- 
nicates a beautiful blue colour, like that of violets, to the flame, 
which I believe has not been before noticed. If a pair of iron 
forceps be used as a support, the iron becomes covered with an oxide 
of tin of incomparable whiteness. The fusion is rapid; and if the 
wood-tin be placed upon charcoal, the metaé is revived in a pure 
and malleable state. 
11. Reduction of Fron Oxide.—In this experiment, as I had used 
wood-tin in the preceding trial, I made use of wood-iron; or fibrous 
red hematite. It was placed upon charcoal, and instantly fused ; 
being reduced to a bead, which began to burn, like iron-wire by 
continuance of the heat. When cold, it exhibited metallic lustre 
to the action of the file; and resembled in all respects the trom 
obtained by the fusion of meteoric stones; excepting that it ap- 
proached nearer to the state of mailleable iron. The combustion of 
the metal is all that prevented its more perfect reduction. This may 
be effected by a slower process, with less vehement heat; as iron 
masters know that cast-iron, long acted upon by fire, in chimneys, 
sometimes becomes malleable. 
12. Fusion and Combustion of Platinum.—As this test affords the 
only measure of the heat obtained in burning the gaseous mixture 
of hydrogen and oxygen, it may be proper to state that such is the 
increased temperature since using Newman’s improved blow-pipe; 
constructed according to the plan recommended by Professor Cum- 
ming, that we are forced to check its operation when. we wish to 
obtain large drops of this metal from platinum wire. The diameter 
of the jet is now so much enlarged, that the flame of the ignited 
gas extends more than two inches beyond the orifice; and the gas 
may be made to burn with a flame five or six inches in length, with- 
out danger of an explosion, by using proper caution : consequently 
the fusion of the platinum is so rapid that the drops fall from it, like 
drops of water from melting ice ; and this fusion is all the while ac- 
companied by a radiating scintillation, caused by the sparks given out 
by the metal during its combustion ; affording a most pleasing and 
brilliant experiment. The largest drops which have fallen from 
melting platinum wire, when exposed to the utmost heat, weigh 10 
