50 Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. 



Dr. Hare stated, that he had for many years endeavored to draw the 

 attention of men of science to the fact, that if, when a fine and a coarse 

 wire of platina are made to form the electrodes or poles of a powerful 

 voltaic series of not less than 300 pairs, the coarse wire, while forming 

 the positive end or anode, be introduced into a concentrated solution of 

 chloride of calcium, and the fine wire be made to touch the surface of 

 the solution, fusion of the extremity into a globule will follow every con- 

 tact. But when the polarity of the wires is reversed, the resulting igni- 

 tion is comparatively feeble. 



This experiment, Dr. Hare stated, was repeated to the satisfaction of 

 Professors Silliman, Henry, and James Rogers, all of whom were present 

 at the trial of the apparatus. 



When the finer wire was plunged about an inch below the surface of 

 the solution, it became luminous throughout, emitting rays of a brilliant 

 purple 'hue. 



For the fusion of the platina wire, in the experiment above described, 

 it was found necessary to use the whole series consecutively as 400 pairs; 

 showing. Dr. Hare remarked, that there are effects which require a great 

 number of pairs. He had, in previous experiments, found that fresh 

 phosphuret of calcium was a conductor for 350 pairs of 7 X 3, but not 

 for 100 pairs of 7^ X 14. 



The deflagration of an iron wire by contact with mercury, took place 

 with phenomena which were never before witnessed by any of the spec- 

 tators. At first the mercury was deflagrated with an intense silvery white 

 light, after which there arose a vertical shower of red sparks, caused by 

 the combustion of the iron. Lastly, a globule having accumulated at the 

 end of the wire after a momentary stoppage of the reaction, an explosion 

 took place, by which fragments of the globule, together with portions of 

 the mercury, were projected to a great distance. 



It would seem, said Dr. Hare, as if a globule of peroxide of iron, hav- 

 ing formed at the end of the wire, caused a temporary arrestation of the 

 voltaic current ; but that the apparatus, gaining energy in consequence 

 of a transient repose, was enabled to break through the globule so as to 

 disperse its particles with violence. 



August 21. — Mr. Boye stated, that Mr. Clarke Hare and he had suc- 

 ceeded in producing a perchloric ether. 



It is a colorless liquid, heavier than water, and of a sweet, but after- 

 wards acid taste, resembling that of the oil of cinnamon. Its most re- 

 markable property is its explosiveness. Not only by ignition, but even 

 by friction or percussion, it explodes with extreme violence, and cannot 

 therefore be handled without the greatest precaution. When it is borne 

 in mind that perchloric acid, containing seven atoms of oxygen, loosely 

 combined with chlorine, is in this substance, in contact with sufficient 

 carbon and hydrogen to be converted into carbonic oxide and water, the 

 violence of its explosion will easily be accounted for. 



