IMPERFECT LAMPS. 



whenever a particle of carbon becomes red hot in the pres- 

 ence of oxygen, it immediately combines with it, and forms 

 another substance which is entirely invisible. There have 

 been devised in modern times many modes of furnishing 

 supplies of oxygen for flames in a more rapid and abundant 

 manner, so as to prevent the 

 escape of any unconsumed 

 carbon, but in early times 

 no method was known of 

 doing this. Indeed, the ne- 

 cessity or desirableness of 

 doing it was not understood, 

 for scarcely any thing was 

 known before the middle of 

 the last century in regard to 

 the true nature of flame, or 

 of the conditions on which 

 the greater or less degree 

 of light which could be de- 

 rived from it depended. 



Accordingly, in early 

 times lamps were used, quite 

 artistic sometimes in exter- 

 nal form, but very rude and 

 imperfect in respect to the 

 principle on which they op- 

 erated. There was no ar- 

 rangement to facilitate the 

 supply of oxygen, nor to 

 prevent the disturbing and 

 cooling eflect of currents of 

 I air upon the flame, so that 

 a faint and flickering light, 

 accompanied by a great deal 



ANCIENT LAMP. 



