Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 024.djvu/665

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V. Several Experiments on the Mercurial Phosphorus, made before the Royal Society, at Gresham-College, by Mr Fra. Hauksbee, F. R. S.

Experiment I.

Shewing that Light is Produceable from Mercury, by Passing Common Air through the Body of it, after the Receiver is well Exhausted.

I took a Glass Recipient open and grownd at both ends, whose content was Equal to about 30 ounces of Water: The upper Orifice of which was clos'd with a Brass plate, by means of a wet Leather laid on the edge of it. In the middle of which Plate was screw'd a Stopcock; from whose lower Orifice was inserted by Cement a small Glass Tube, reaching from thence to near the Bottom of a Glass, included in the premention'd Receiver. In which Glass was put as much Quicksilver as would cover the Bottom of the Tube about a quarter of an Inch. Thus prepar'd, (see Fig. the 1st) and plac'd upon the Pump, the Stopcock was turn'd, to hinder the Airs passage that way, till the Receiver was sufficiently exhausted. Which being done, and the Stopcock return'd, the Air then rusht strongly through the Body of the Mercury, (by Passing the Tube before mention'd) Blowing it up with Violence against the sides of the Glass that held it, appearing all round as a Body of Fire, made up of abundance of Glowing Globules, Desending again into its self. The Phænomenon continuing till the Receiver was half Repleat with Air.

Ex-

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