11s Papers relating tothe Fusion of Carton, 
IV. Examination of the projections which arise upon char- 
coal intensely ignited between the poles of a galvanic defia- 
grator. By R. Hare,M. D. &c. &c. 
Wuice | conceive it impossible that a globule of malleable 
iron, of the size of that described by Prof. Vanuxem, should 
be derived from a portion of wood charcoal, small enough to 
"be comprised within the sphere of intense galvanic ignition ; 
} have never been of opinion, that there might not be a mi- 
gute portion of iron in some kinds of charcoal. In my ine- 
moir on the supply and application of the blowpipe, publish- 
ed in 1802, it was suggested, that the dark colour acquired 
by some of the earths, during fusion, might be owing toa 
trace of iron in the coal. Dr. Clark, afterwards, sanctioned 
ihis conjecture. 
About two years ago, in examining some projections formed 
on charcoal, pursuant to Professor Silliman’s observations, it 
occurred to me, that there was in the texture, a resemblance 
io plumbago. 
hike lately subjected several specimens of fused carbon, 
received from Prof. Silliman, to nitrate of potash intensely 
heated by different means. Sometimes, a small platina tray, 
containing the nitre and fused carvon, was made to complete 
the circuit of a large calorimotor ; in others, it was subjected 
to the flame of the hydro-oxygen blowpipe. In either case, 
the deflagration of the carbonaceous product, with the nitre, 
was effected. When it had all disappeared, the tray was 
subjected to water, heated ina glass tube, until all the soluble 
matter was dissolved. Being thus cleansed from the salt, it 
was introduced into another glass tube, containing pure, 
colourless, muriatic acid. The acid instantly assumed a 
straw colour, and gave a blue colour with the prussiate of 
potash, although on mixture with the same test, before the 
tray had been exposed to it, the acid underwent no change 
of colour, on admixture with the prussiate. The soluble 
matter removed by the water, being assayed with lime water, 
gave a very copious precipitate. When one of the projec- 
tions, held in a pair of slender forceps, was exposed to the 
hydro-oxygen flame. it burned readily, Jeaving scarcely any 
residue. 
