38 + Morey on Heat and Taght. 
repel each other, soas to occupy twice or more the bulk 
of atmospheric air, than the vapour of the combustible would 
alone. Oil and water repel each other to a sensible dis- 
tance, when in a cold liquid state. When at the high tem- 
perature of the vapour, being so very volatile, and divided 
into such very minute particles, they. are evidently repelled 
so as to occupy a much larger volume, and to mix with a 
much greater quantity of atmospheric air. it needs no ex- 
periment to know, that charcoal barely ignited will decom- 
pose water. How much more rapid and violent must the 
process be here, where there is an abundance of atmos- 
pheric air on every side to assist and increase the combus- 
tion and decomposition, as well as for furnishing on the spot 
an abundant resupply of heat. What electricity has to do 
in combustion, it is not for me to say: but, that it assists in 
repelling the particles into a greater space, I trust there is 
no doubt: and from its general well known energy and ac- 
tivity, it evidently does not remain passive. If we apply 
the moist wick of a candle to the flame of another to light 
it, it is not possible for me to distinguish the sharp cracking 
reports from those of electricity.* In nature’s greatest 
labratory, for the formation of carbonic acid gas, the pro- 
cess is carried on at a temperature not above blood heat: 
that is by something like a thousand millions of human be- 
ings, besides myriads of animals, incessantly breathing. I 
know not, that life is necessary, at this temperature for that 
purpose. But from what source the whole of the sensible 
heat, evolved by combustion, during the formation of the car- 
bonic acid gas, or that evolved during the formation of water 
by the combustien of its component parts, as well as from 
many other processes, proceeds, | trust is as yet not fully — 
known. It may therefore; for aught I know, be a,fact, that 
much sensible heat, may be obtained by the decomposition 
and recomposition of water, if confined wholly to the com- 
bustible ; but when an equal quantity of water is again re- 
composed from the atmospheric air and hydrogen of the de- 
composed water, solely, the oxygen, I should think, could 
not be lost, surrounded as it is, on all sides, by a highly in- 
flammable vapor. 
* May not this proceed from the decomposition of the water and the sud- 
den conversion of some of it into steam as when drops of water fall into @ 
kettle of boiling oil?—Ed 
