88 Mr Murray's Experiments on the Ignition of Wires. 
tempted to describe. That this may be the case in some de- 
gree, is true ; for it is impossible that either the Mahanuddy, 
the Behur, or the Touse *, can vie with the St Lawrence ; but 
take the romantic scenery of the first, the great height of the 
second, the quantity of water and rugged rocks of the last, and 
contrast them, in a body, with the Falls of Niagara, there can- 
not be the shadow of a doubt that they would be considered, du- 
ring the season of the rains, as infinitely more worthy of being 
recorded and admired than those I have last mentioned, the ce- 
lebration of which has occupied the pens of so many poets and 
travellers. 
Art. XV. — Detail of Experiments on the Ignition of Wires , 
by the Galvanic Battery . By John Murray, F. L. S., 
M. W. S., &c. Communicated by the Author, 
1 HE following experiments on the ignition of wires may per- 
haps not be altogether uninteresting. Being connected with the 
phenomena of caloric developed in the action of the galvanic 
battery, I trust they may be acceptable as a contribution to- 
ward that mass of facts which may, at some future period, as- 
sume a more scientific form. 
In these experiments I used four porcelain troughs, each 
containing ten cells, and each cell supplied with fluid ounce 
of the strongest nitrous acid , being filled up with water to the 
depth of two-thirds, and properly mixed with a glass rod. Nitrous 
acid in this proportion, I have ever found best calculated for 
the development of galvanic action. Fifteen to eighteen inches 
of fine platinum wire may be readily ignited, I of course use the 
triad (4 inches square), for which we are indebted to the saga- 
city of that ingenious and profound philosopher Dr Wollaston. 
When sulphuric acid is employed, as is done, most injudi- 
ciously as I think, by some, in mixture with the nitrous acid, 
the vapour is perfectly intolerable, and much of the action is no 
* The following are the computed Breadths of the Rivers above the Falls, when 
. filled with water during the Rains 
Mahanuddy, - . 100 yards. 
Behur, - - - 120 yards. 
Touse, - 350 yards. 
