Mr Deuchar m the Nature of Flame, $83 
fore, would be more strikingly displayed, were it to carry along 
with it a quantity of air, than they would be, were it to force its 
way through the tube and air in a separate form. 
But, upon the whole, we must allow it to be a subject of con- 
siderable obscurity, and further trials may be necessary proper- 
ly to elucidate the cause. 
VI. When we look for the cause of these phenomena, there 
are two explanations which at once suggest themselves. The 
one, ascribing the whole to electricity ; and the other, to con- 
densed caloric. 
The circumstances which lead to the electrical explanation of 
the phenomena are, 
1^^, The rapidity of the result. This takes place before the 
least vibration is conveyed to the under end, as is proved by 
the following experiment : 
Eocp. 19 . — A tin cup, loosely fitted to the bottom of the tube, 
was filled with gunpowder, and a quantity of the fulminating 
powder was exploded in the usual way at the top ; in this case, 
the motion of the flame was so instantaneous with the percus- 
sion, that the gunpowder was fired before the vibration from 
the blow could act upon the tin-cup. This was tried in various 
other ways with the same result. 
The colour of the flame much resembling electric light. 
It is slightly bluish. 
There being some similarity in the darting of the light 
from the bottom of the tube, and the passing of an electric spark 
upon its discharge. 
4d;hly^ The odour resembling some of those which arise from 
actions which have often been called electrical. And, 
5thly, The fulminating powder employed, containing an elec- 
tric, which we were entitled to suspect had been brought into 
rapid excitation by the percussion. 
Such, then, being the corresponding appearances of the elec- 
tric fluid and the flame in question, a number of experiments 
were tried, with the view of either establishing or overturning 
this apparent identity. As the results were all unfavourable 
to the electric theory, an account of three of them may be suffi- 
cient. 
