36 Dr. C. K. Akin on Calcescence. 



same losses of radiation by reflexion, but a smaller loss of Her- 

 schellic rays by absorption — the incandescence was found to con- 

 tinue (though of course its brilliancy was weakened) notwith- 

 standing the interposition of the diaphragm. 



7. Transmutation in Comburescence. — Another class of pheno- 

 mena from which corroboration may be derived that transmuta- 

 tions involving an increase of refrangibility in the emitted beam 

 as compared with the incident — and more especially the transmu- 

 tation of Herschellic into Newtonic rays — are feasible, may yet 

 be briefly adverted to. The glow of a platinum wire held in the 

 flame of a Bun sen's gas-burner, of carbon particles in the candle- 

 flame, or of lime in the oxyhydrogen-flame, and no less so the 

 phenomena of coloration to which the introduction of substances 

 capable of vaporization gives rise in alcohol or gas-flames, in the 

 opinion of the author, constitute examples of ray-renovation or 

 transmutation in statu nascenti, so to speak, of the rays. In all 

 these instances the matter introduced into the various flames 

 does not produce any new rays by chemical or other means, but 

 acts simply as a renovating and transmuting agent on the rays 

 emitted by the comburescent or ignited gases with which it is in 

 contact*. 



The above phenomena in so far are, if not identical, still ex- 

 tremely similar to those of ordinary ray-transmutation by fluor- 

 escence ; but there is reason to believe that the transmutations 

 which they evidence are the reverse of those effected by ordinary 

 fluorescence. Perhaps the most trustworthy example for the 

 deduction of such an inference is afforded by the case of the oxy- 

 hydrogen-flame and of lime-light. It is well known that the 

 oxyhydrogen-flame by itself is but sparingly visible, and hence 

 poor in Newtonic rays; it has been found to be little active pho- 

 tographically, and is hence rather deficient in Ritteric rays ; yet 

 on the introduction of lime into the flame, the well-known 

 brilliant lime-light is emitted, consisting of a dazzling beam 

 of Newtonic rays, which, to conclude from its powerful photo- 

 graphic effects, observed by Professor W. A. Millerf, is probably 

 accompanied by an intense beam of Ritteric rays. As the oxy- 

 hydrogen-flame, from its great powers of calefaction, must neces- 

 sarily emit Herschellic rays abundantly in its natural state, it 

 admits of little doubt that the Newtonic and Ritteric rays engen- 

 dered by the introduction of lime into the flame arise from a 



* [It may be interesting to learn what was the opinion of Melloni regard- 

 ing the origin of lime-light, &c. He says (La Thermochr. p. 94) : — " Ce 

 phenomene tient evidemment a une action de masse. Les gaz sont des 

 corps tres legers ; s'lls peuvent reussir a communiquer leur etat d'incan- 

 descence aux corps doues d'une plus grande densite, la quantite de lumiere 

 devra necessairement augmenter."] 



f Chemical News for March 21, 1863. 



