302 Dr. Cutbush on the Greek Fire. 



stration of No. 283, the phrase at least is used,where there 

 should be at most, and vice versa. We would suggest 

 whether the reasoning of No. 283 is satisfactory ; and 

 whether it would not be better to deduce the lemma im- 

 mediately, from the definition of a straight line. Such a 

 line being the shortest distance between two points, any 

 line connecting these two points and varying from the 

 straight line, is greater than it ; and the more any line al- 

 ways remaining convex, varies from the straightline between 

 its extreme points, the greater is such line. The Edin- 

 burgh Encjclopasdists have laid down an axiom nearly 

 equivalent to the lemma under discussion. 



PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, MECHANICS, AND THE ARTS. 



Art. X.] .—Remarks concerning the composition and proper- 

 ties of the Greek fire ^ by James Cutbush, A. S. U. S. A. 

 and Acting Professor of Chemistry and Mineralogy in the 

 U. S, Military Academy. 



Having been engaged for some time in collecting facts, 

 both ancient and modern, in relation to pyrotechny, with 

 the view of forming a complete system on that subject; I ne- 

 cessarily examined all the writings extant on the Greek fire, 

 and other incendiary preparations. Although nothing fully 

 satisfactory, as to the real composition of the original Greek 

 fire, can be stated, yet we are assured from various author- 

 ities, that the principal ingredient was naptha, which with 

 other substances, (camphor appears to have been one,) 

 in consequence of its great inflammability produced the 

 extraordinary effects recorded in history. 



The Greek fire was invented by Callinicusof Heliopolis, 

 a town in Syria, who used it with so much skill and effect 

 during a naval engagement, that he destroyed a whole fleet 

 of the enemy, in which were embarked 30,000 men.* 



* The Noveau DicHotiaire Historique par L. M. Chaudon et F. A. Delan- 

 iline, article Callinicus, speaks of him thus : " Callinique, d' Heliopolis en 

 Syria, auteur de la decouverte du Feu grecque. L' empereur Constantin 



