GAL 



GAM 



tain a fixed alkali. If the tubes be filled 

 with infusion of cabbage, the signs of al- 

 kali and acid are very soon observed, 

 from the liquid of z becoming red, and 

 that of c green. If the connection be re- 

 versed, the liquids repass to the blue co- 

 lour, and if the process be continued, 

 that of 2 becomes green, and c red. 



Galvanism, as a source of light and heat. 



Batteries of great dimensions, such as 

 contain from 5,000 to 10,000 square 

 inches each, of zinc and copper surface, 

 are capable of furnishing abundance of 

 sensible heat and much light. If the con- 

 nection between the two ends of the bat- 

 tery be made by a very small wire, such 

 as the fine watch spring wire, the wire 

 becomes red-hot for a considerable length, 

 and if the power of the battery be great, 

 itjbecomes white-hot, and ultimately fus- 

 ed. 



Let the end of the wires of the battery 

 be each provided with a pair of tweezers, 

 one pair of which being insulated from 

 the hand by coveringthe surface with dry 

 cloth , place between each pair of tweez- 

 ers a small bit of charcoal, made in a close 

 vessel, from box-wood, or lignum vitx. 

 The moment the contact is formed be- 

 tween the bits of charcoal, a vivid light 

 is produced, much more brilliant than that 

 occasioned by burning in oxygen. If the 

 contact be frequently severed by a sort of 

 tremulous motion, the light may be kept 

 up for some time. 



The foils and small wires of metals are 

 deflagrated by placing them in the "cur- 

 rent. Let one of the conducting wires be 

 brought in contact with an iron dish, fill- 

 ed with mercury. Let the foil or small 

 wires be attached to the other conducting 

 wire, and be brought in contact with the 

 surface of the mercury, which, constantly 

 presenting a clear surface, is very conve"- 

 nient in these experiments. A very bril- 

 liant effect may also be produced, by pre- 

 senting the foils to the surface of a sheet 

 of tinsel. 



In flaming oils, alcohol, &c. by gal- 

 vanism, some thin metallic substance, or 

 a small piece of charcoal, should be co- 

 vered with the substance to be inflamed. 

 The moment the contact is made, as 

 in deflagrating the metal, the oil takes 

 fire. 



The galvanic spark, with great facility, 

 fires a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen 

 gases. 



A very brilliant discovery has lately 

 been made by Mr. Davy, Professor at 



the Royal Institution, and confirmed by 

 others, which consists in the decom. o- 

 sition of the two fixed alkalies. It is per- 

 formed by placing a bit of the alkali in 

 the solid state, and a little moistened,up- 

 on a plate of platina, connected with one 

 eiid of the battery, and bringing into con- 

 tact with it another piece of platina, from 

 the other end of the battery. A por- 

 tion of black matter is soon formed, in 

 which is found imbedded small me- 

 tallic globules ; which substance is found 

 to be the base of the alkali, and has 

 been deprived of its oxygen by the gal- 

 vanic agency. These globules are so in- 

 flammable, as to decompose water, with 

 a brilliant flash and slight explosion. See 

 AI-KALI. 



This discovery will be of great import- 

 ance to chemistry, and will probably soon 

 make a serious change in its arrangement 

 and nomenclature. 



GAMBOGE, is a substance obtained 

 from the stalagmites cambogioides, a tree 

 that grows wild in the East Indies; from 

 which it is had by wounding the shoots, 

 It is brought here in large cakes, which 

 are yellow, opaque, and brittle. With 

 water it forms ayellow turbid liquid used 

 in painting. In alcohol it is completely 

 dissolved. If taken internally, it operates 

 violently as a cathartic. 



GAME. It is a maxim of the common 

 law, that goods of which no person can 

 claim any property belong to the King 

 by his prerogative ; hence those animals 

 ferae naturae, which come under the de- 

 nomination of game, are styled his 

 Majesty's game ; and that which he has 

 he may grant to another; in consequence 

 of which, another may prescribe to have 

 the same within such a precinct 01- lord- 

 ship. And hence originated the right of 

 lords of manors, or others, to the game 

 within their respective liberties. For the 

 preservation of these species of animals, 

 for the recreation and amusement of per- 

 sons of fortune, to whom the King has 

 granted the same, and to prevent persons 

 of inferior rank from misemploying their 

 time, the following acts of parliament 

 have been made. The common people 

 are not injured by these restrictions, no 

 right being taken from them which they 

 ever enjoyed; but privileges are granted 

 to those who have certain qualifications 

 therein mentioned, which before rested 

 solely in the King. To entitle any one 

 to kill game, he must now take out a cer- 

 tificate, upon which a stamp duty is 

 payable. These certificates are to be 

 dated the day of the .month wlisa issued. 





