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THE CHEMISTRY OF CREATION. 



state the principles upon which the success of 

 this simple and beautiful invention depends.' 

 The lamp is, in reality, only a common oil-lamp, 

 surrounded by a wire gauze. It may be 

 trimmed by a small bent wire which projects 

 from the bottom of the lamp. 

 So completely is it shut in, 

 that the supply of air for its 

 combustion can nowhere come 

 to it but through the wire 

 gauze. Now, when this lamp 

 is put into an atmosphere con- 

 sisting of fire-damp and air, it 

 does not cause it to kindle and 

 explode, as a common candle 

 would do ; but, strange to say, 

 the light of the wick goes out, 

 and the interior of the gauze 

 cylinder becomes filled with a 

 pale blue lambent flame, caused 

 by the fire-damp and air taking 

 fire within it, and burning 

 without violence. On being taken out of such 

 a mixture, the wick again catches fire, and the 

 blue flame disappears. If, when the lamp is 

 plunged in a glass jar filled with this explosive 

 compound, we were to strip off its gauze pro- 

 tection, the whole would instantly explode, and 

 shiver the vessel to fragments. It is therefore 



THB SAFETY LAMP. 



