132 



THE MAGNESIUM LAMP. 



from the reel heat, but it seems to be, in some way, of a dif- 

 ferent kind at least it is found capable of producing dif- 

 ferent effects, and it is in consequence of these peculiar ef- 

 fects that the magnesium can be made very useful for cer- 

 tain philosophical purposes. One would suppose that it 

 would be very difficult to devise a lamp for burning a solid 

 metal in the form of a ribbon of wire, or, indeed, in any 

 other form, but the difficulty has been surmounted in va- 

 rious ways. One of the modes by which this has been ac- 

 complished is shown in the engraving. The instrument is 

 called the magnesium lamp. 



The metal is used in the form of a wire, which is wound 

 upon the wheel A, which wheel thus takes the place of the 

 reservoir containing the oil in a common lamp. The wire 

 is drawn off from the wheel slowly by clock-work contained 

 in the box B; within the 'box it passes between two wheels 



