366 SCIENTIFIC KEWSi 



came luminous. He has made the same experiment with a 

 great number of liquids, which became luminous by the same 

 treatment ; such as olive oil, volatile oils, alcohol, sulphuric 

 ether, acetous, and a saturated and boiled solution of potash, 

 &c. 



He ascertained, at the same time, that the temperature of 

 all these liquids was at the same time raised. 



Solid bodies likewise become luminous by compression. 

 He filled the same tube with powdered chalk, and gave it a 

 blow in the dark. The whole mass was then penetrated with 

 a strong light, which disappeared like a flash of lightning. 



He had the same results from flowers of sulphur, dried sul- 

 phate of magnesia, nitrate of potash, black oxide of manga- 

 nese, ashes, powder of mica, and of vegetable coal, &c. and, 

 in a word, every thing that was at hand. 



The same bodies, struck with an hammer or an arivil, like- 

 wise gave atmospheric light; but particularly fluat of lime, 

 phosphate of lime, and caustic lime j but sulphur, the metallic 

 oxides by calcination, and burned alum, gave a very feeble 

 light. 



This difference seemed to him to have arisen from water in 

 the solid state contained in these bodies. He ascertained this 

 by the following experiments. He poured a few drops of wa- 

 ter upon caustic lime, and it became very luminous by the 

 blow. And the same effect was produced on other bodies. 



Other experiments showed, that this light produced by com" 

 pression is not electrical, but arises from the sudden approach 

 of the particles of the bodies to each other. 



Questions from a Correspondent on Subjects tending to encourage 

 the Iron mamifucture of this Country. 



Has the making of iron had a gradual increase since 1800 ? 

 apd since that year, have considerable works been erected or 

 established in addition throughout the United Kingdom, and 

 principally where ? 



What 



