The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-04
DIR. TyndalI's New Researches.

from The London AGtengun.
"On q New Series of Chemical Reactions
produced by Light" is the title of remarkable
paper presented to the Royal Society by DR..
Tyndall. 1t is paper which will be read with
eagerness for the interesting facts it dscloses,
and for the method Of experiment, heretofore
untried, which 1t offers to chemists. Vapors
of volatile liquids are introduced into an ex-
hausted glass tube, and subjected to the action
of concentrated sunlight, or to the concentrated
beam of the electric light. This is the method:
the effects produced varying with the vapor
employed, may, without strain Of speech, be
described as wonderful.
The method has another advantage for as
DR.. Tyndall remarks, the power of the electric
beam to reveal the existence OF any thing
within the experimental tube, or the impuri-
ties of the tube itself, is extraordinary. When
the experiment is made in darkened room,
a tube which in ordinary daylight appears
absolutely clean is often shown, by the pre-
sent mode of examination, to be exceedingly
filthy. With vapor of nitrate of amyl, a
shower of liquid spherules was preeipitated
on the beam, thus generating cloud within
the tube. With a modification of the beam
the precipitation was 80 rapid and intense
that the cone formed by the BEAM before in
visible, flashed suddenly forth like solid and
luminous spear. BY proper management of
the light, the vapor within the tube may be
made to appear OF q rich pure blue color, equal
to that in the skies of the Alps.
With iodide of allyl the vapor column re-
volved round the axis of the decomposing
beam, drawn in at certain places like an hour
glass, while delicate cloud -flaments twisted
themselves in spirals round the bells of the
appsrent hour glass. With iodide of isopropyl
another change took place: the vapor formed
globes and cylinders, which were animated by
commoti0n of rotation, disturbed at times by
paroxysm, in which beautiful and grotesque
cloud forms were developed, some represent
ing a serpent's head, others buds which seemed
to grow into flowers and all of a gorgeous
mauve color. With hydrobromic acid the
cloud resolves itself into series of disks aud
tunnels, then parasols and rings of a very pale
blue color, and all rotating as in the former
instance.
With hydrochloric acid the cloud requires
twenty minutes for its full development, but
then it appears in sections each possessing an
exceedingly complex and ornate structure,
exhibiting ribs, spears, tunnels, leaves, in
volved scrolls, and iridescent tleurs-de-l lis.
With bydriodic acid another modification is
seen, having family likeness to the two i'm
mediately preceding, but with marked differ
ences of development, for the green and Grim
son produced were the most vivid that DR..
Tyndall has yet observed. The development
of the cloud, as he describes, was like that of
an organism, from a more or less formless
mass at the commencement, to a structure of
marvellous complexity, at which the Professor
'looked in wonder for nearly two hours"
We may anticipate that a subject which ap-
peals to the eye as this does will be taken for
one of the Friday evening lectures at the Royal
Institution. Meanwhile, different classes of
scientific inquirers may work with the new
method, for 1t connects itself with phenomena
of chemical decomposition, with molecular
physics, and with phenomena of the atmos-
phere.
-"MsrigOld" is the new color in gloves.
-Strakosch is negotiating for ROssini's last
mass.
There are oyster pirates on the Maryland
shore.
xust nj otf