The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-01-11
A DIAMOND BONFIRE.
Watch Makers Magazine.

Prof D0remas, in a recent lecture Al
New York, discoursed as follows on the
subject OF carbon:
This substance mas been the subject OF
assidous research by the scientist dis well
IS of curious interest. He exhibited
models of the prInclpal celebrated dla
monds, the great Mogul weighing 900
karats, the famous Russian diamonds, Inc
Kohinoor, and Others. These are "l
course the purest form OF carbon. He
aludes 70 tue practical use OF The Ola
mond, which on account OF its hardness.
is used To Gus precious stones and to pol
ish other diam ,nds The diamond may
De burned in a galyanic battery or by Il
concrntrat ON of The suns rays. The
burning OF small diamond III d jet Of
hydrogen gas produced brilliant light
4ud oarbon'c acid gas. The presence of
che carbonic acid was proved by The CON
tact of lime water, and the process OF
proving tho presence Of the carbon Was
lliustrAted. The affinity If potas>lm, So
:! dunn, and magnesium for oxygen was
shown by the rnpi tty with which they
iec0mposed carOonic acid aud robbed II
Of its 0xyg en-. The same affinlty WAS
shown by the decomposition OF water.
Each "a hours a man discharges ABOUT
two pounds Of carbonIc acid gas. tn"
amount 81 this consumption OF carbon III
the production Of carDonic acid Was illus
tr .led by breathing Ia lime water, tue re
suit being Instantly perceived 10y the
milky appearance Of the wafer Al III
tercsting experiment was the inprls"n
nent OF p live rabbit in Il purified a'm"s
Dhere and the exhalatjons Of the animal,
oy,1 cly n fE.H Artn IA,
presence Of carbpnic acid showc 10y IFS
IF CT on the lime water In plants, the
reverse process takes place, the calb"nicI
acip being inhalGd aud The oxygen exhaL.
ed Tue distribution Of carbon in the
world, il the form OF coal, was dcscrIbes'
aud illustrated Oy charts and tnssiiS-
SOME OF the latter being Visable marked
with the form of the plant whose com
hustion created them black lead-so very
Il fferent from the dlamoud, Is yet, like
tne diamond, but carbon. Tue pols nous
character Of carbu1.ic acid Was briefly
uched upon. Carbon and oxygen
unite in but two forms. One o. the
greatest Of modern chemical triumph Is
tag union Of carbon AMI hydrogen, wiltcn
was illustrated by experiment with the o
II galvanIc ele trlCIty. By the use ri
Enis discovery sugar aud alcohol can ne
made. The great oils, known as coal oil,
Of petroleum wells, are the result Of the
internal heat vi lhe earth applied To THE
carbon stored in the strata. Further
combustion produces gasoline. The ATTN
NY of carbon in the form Of charcoal Tor
variou, noxlous gases was shown, and the
value of charcoal rs decd )rizer ami dis
Intcctant was explained. The professor
ILLUSTRATED the power of charcoal TO
, serb ammoniacal gas Another experl
mcnt demonstrated that by the consump
non OF carbon not only heat and l'ght,
:. out also electricity, can be produced
) me nitrate or potash Was heated, aud
, upon the introduction Of the pole of the
. 5AivanOmeGer The presence OF elGctr city
was demonstrated by the DETECTION OF al
needle The presence Of the carbon III
STEEL was proved by the combustion OF
steel wire III Jar OF oxygen. The III
PRODUCTION of carbon into iron is what
. makes stleei.
. Carbon exists in water, In all, Ia food,
;. III plants, and ANIMALS. We are cons ant
/, y consuming and crea lug carbon. Were
-. there 40 addition To the atmosphere TIL
. plants would consume in less than 81
+. years. The 1nctssanC mutations OF nature
n, IN the relations or plants and animal.
!. form the great discovery OF modern SCI
ence We never eat, drink, or breatI
without consuming carbon and giving /
the result of It's combustion, Carbon MI.
DC POISONOUS Or nutritious, accordingly
as il Is united with other substances
SsverA! experiments were made to show
tue process of separating the carbon
-. from various c0mbustiDles. The pecu
AZ Liarity of a burning jet of gas to accom-
e, nodate itself To various musical tones wa
or neatly illustrated, u JET Of flame being
nc vlslbly affected 10y the jingling Of key
i or coughing. Some very brillian
es experiments We're made to SHOW
"a the brilliant light producet
/ by the union or oxygen ga
"a : with common street gas The Professo
" stated that pipes are now bsing LAID To
the purpose OF Introducing pure Oxygel
Oh throughout the city, not only for colhous
81 ton TO produce light but also tor resplra
.HH tlon-one OF tho greatest triumphs o.
r. modern science. [Applause La conclu
eS 5lon Prof. DoIemus said that formerly
! the Investigation OF such subjects as they
-. had just been Interested in would have
r ,een regarded IS athsistic, white now II
to was deemed absurd to live without some
s NnOWlodged oi The wonders of nature tina
a. >urrOunu u.s.