272 Scientific Intelligence. 
may be employed within certain limits without materially impairing the 
tenacity of the metal. In a letter to the Editors, dated Nashville, June 
9th, 1860, Dr. Wood says 
ismuth, 
does not impair the tenacity and malleability of the alloy, but inereases 
its hardness and general strength. 
ismuth has always held a pre-eminent rank among metals as a fluidi- 
fying agent in alloys. Its remarkable property of ‘ promoting fusibility’ 
is specially noted in all our works on chemistry. But I do not find it in- 
timated in any that cadmium ever manifests a similar property. The fact 
indeed appears to have been wholly overlooked—owing perhaps to the 
circumstance that as an alloy with certain metals cadmium does not pro- 
mote fusibility. 
Cadmium promotes the fusibility of some metals, as copper, tin, lead, 
bismuth, while it does not promote the fusibility of others, as silver, an- 
timony, mercury, se,, (i. e., does not lower the melting point beyond the 
mean.) ‘As alloy with lead and tin in any proportion and with silver and 
mercury, within a certain limit, say equal parts and especially of two parts 
silver and one of cadmium or two parts cadmium and one mercury are 
used, are tenaceous and malleable, while its alloys with some malleable 
metals, (gold, copper, platinum, é&c.,) and probably with all brittle metals 
are ‘ brittle.’ 
I notice a great discrepancy among authors as to the melting point of 
this metal. It is usually put down the same as that of tin, (442° F.) 
the New American Cyclopedia,) gives its melting point at 360° F., while 
Overman places it at 550° and gives 600° as the temperature at which it 
point in round numbers at 600° F. as it melts and congeals nearly synchro- 
nously with lead, the melting point of which is stated by different authori- 
ties as 594°, 600°, and 612° F. It volatalizes at a somewhat higher heat, 
ah bismuth melts at a temperature varying not far from 70° C. (158° F.) 
t may appropriately be called “ Wood's fusible metal.” —Eps.] 
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