Hare’s Blowpipe. 289 
about one-fourth of an inch high, and somewhat thicker 
than a great pin. The cylinder remained in connection 
with the piece of lime. This was held by a pair of for- 
ceps, and thus the small cylinder of lime was brought into 
contact with the heat without danger of being blown away, 
and without a possibility of contamination. There was this 
further advantage (as the experiment was delicate, and the 
determination of the result might be difficult) that as the cyl- 
inder was held in a perpendicular position, if the lime did 
really melt, the column must sink and become at least to a 
degree blended with the supporting mass of lime. When 
the compound flame fell upon the lime, the splendor of the 
light was perfectly insupportable by the naked eye, and 
when viewed through deep coloured glasses (as indeed all 
these experiments ought to be) the lime was seen to be- 
come rounded at the angles, and gradually to sink, till in the 
course of a few seconds, only a small globular protuberance 
remained, and the mass of supporting lime was also super- 
ficially fused at the base of the column for a space of half 
an inchin diameter. The protuberance as well as the con- 
tiguous portion of lime was converted into a perfectly white 
and glistening enamel. A magnifying glass discovered a 
few minute pores, but not the slightest earthy appearance. 
This experiment was repeated several times and with uni- 
form success ; may not lime therefore be added to the list 
of fusible bodies ° 
Clark, page 47. “‘ Lime in a state of perfect purity and 
in the pulverulent form being placed within a platinum cru- 
cible, and exposed to the flame of the gas blowpipe, its up- 
per surface became covered with a limpid botyroidal glass, 
resembling hyalite ; the inferior surface was quite black. 
Its fusion was accompanied by a lambent purple flame. 
This colour therefore may be considered as a characteristic 
hue of one at least of the oxydes of calcium.” 
Clark, page 49, No.6. “ Compact transition limestone 
(limestone of Parnassus.) The specimen was taken from 
the summit of Parnassus by the author. It was fused, but 
with great difficulty exhibiting after fusion a white milky 
enamel with points of intumescence that were transparent.” 
