434 



Of the Propagation of Heat 



tion ; and this depends in a great measure upon the 

 conducting powers of the bodies in question. 

 ■ The sensation excited in us when we touch any- 

 thing that appears to us to be hot is the entrance of 

 heat into our bodies ; that of cold is its exit ; and 

 whatever contributes to facilitate or accelerate this com- 

 munication adds to the violence of the sensation. And 

 this is another proof that the thermometer cannot be 

 a just measure of the intensity of the sensible Heat, 

 or Cold, existing in bodies ; or rather, that the touch 

 does not afford us a just indication of their real tem- 

 peratures. 



A Table of the conducting Powers of the under- 

 mentioned Mediums as determined by the foregoing Ex- 

 periments. 



