On the Capillary Action of Fissures, &c. 377 
indigent females is about one half more than that of the 
other sex. There are in Paris 26,801 houses, containing 
224,922 families, and upon an average, the number of fires, 
or conflagrations, (including chimnies,) is 585. About 
1,000 houses are built annually.—Rev. Encyc. 
14. On the Capiilury Action of Fissures, &c.—M. Do- 
bereiner has remarked a singular effect produced apparent- 
ly by fissures. Having filled a large glass flask with hy- 
drogen, and left it standing over water, it was observed 
some days after, that the water had risen in it above one 
third of its capacity. The only cause for this effect that 
could be assigned was, the existence of a very minute fis- 
gure inthe glass. Filled a second time, and left cver water, 
the fluid had risen in it above an inch and a half in twelve 
hours, and in twenty-four, had risen two inches and three 
quarters, during which time the barometer and thermome- 
ter had not sensibly altered. In other experiments, ves- 
sels of other forms were used, and the water uniformly rose 
in those having fissures. 
When one of these vessels filled with hydrogen was cov- 
ered by a bell glass, or when the vessels were filled with 
atmospheric air, oxygen, or azote, instead of hydrogen, no 
change took place. 
M. Dobereiner considers the effect as due probably to 
capillary action. He suggests that all gases may be con- 
sidered as consisting of solid atoms, of various sizes, envel- 
oped by atmospheres of heat, also very different, and tha 
hydrogen, though it has the largest atmospheres of heat, has 
the smallest atom, and is thus permitted to escape by fis- 
sures which retain the other gases. ‘‘ Probably,” he says, 
** fissures may be formed, which will permit azote to pass, 
but not oxygen, and others again, which will let the oxy- 
gen out, but not carbonic acid gas.” 
Another experiment, which seems related to this subject, 
is as follows :—A thermometer tube had been drawn out 
very fine in the lamp, and it being desired to have it filled 
with alcohol, the point was immersed in that fluid, and the 
bulb heated till no more bubbles of air escaped: the tube 
was then cooled, but no alcohol entered. When again heat- 
ed, an abundance of bubbles of air passed out through the 
alcohol, though when re-cooled, no alcoho] would enter. 
Von. VIII.—No, 2. 48 
