100 Scientific Intelligence. 
long columns of fine white light and phosphorescent, in which the lay- 
ers of the stratification are sensibly plane and of unequal thickness. 
In most of the vacuums the two lights are separated by a dark layer. 
On approximating to one another, the two balls, when the vacuum has 
been made in atmospheric air, the red light disappears completely 
whilst the violet brightens. In the vacuum made over the fiuorid 
of siliciam, the contrary is true; the light of the positive pole disap- 
pears, and the negative yellow light becomes very brilliant, as well as 
the purple rings which surround it. These rings are developed on the 
contrary about the positive pole when the two balls are much approx- 
imated, 
These singular phenomena observed by MM. Ruhmkorff and Quet 
. . 
by using an interrupted current from a single Bunsen element with 
Despretz has observed that in a vacuum nearly perfect, the spark of 
the pile may increase in brilliancy, and the are may be formed and main- 
tained at a distance of one and even five centimeters, not only with 
with the necessity of amalgamation; but I have repeated the experi- 
ments with care without success, and other chemists have not been 
more fortunate with it. 
e 
assistant at the “Callege de France.” As scientific labors usua y 
precede the applications, we cannot multiply too much such researches 
as those of M. Berthelot or those which haye been for some time ocou- 
pying M. Redtenbacher 
called phocenine ;’ also benzoicine and sebine, which are examples 
of neutral compounds with a bibasic acid, the sebacic, and glycerine ; 
and finally, M. Berthelot is in the way of preparing directly stearine 
and margarine. 
