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After the iron had remained twenty- 

 four hours in the furnace, and was femi- 

 fufed, I let fall a few drops of water on it. 

 They at liril: remained motionlefs, . without 

 apparently diminifhing in bulk ; but they 

 foon after began to leap about and boil, 

 wafting away, till, in lefs than a minute, 

 they difappeared. When I poured on more 

 v/ater the effeds were the fame, only the 

 ebullition was more fenfible, becaufe it was 

 proportioned to the greater quantity of 

 water. 



Leaving the iron in the furnace, I, afrer 

 feven hours more, repeated the experiment, 

 having firH; removed the crucible into the 

 cold air. I threw on the iron a flight 

 fprinkling of water ; but this in an inftant 

 difappeared wiihout the leaft found. I then 

 poured the quantity of an ounce on it. For 

 a moment the water remained quiet ; it then 

 divided into globules, and began to boil 

 with fome flight noife. In a (hoit time it 

 entirely evaporated. 



The 



