Page:Various Forces of Matter.djvu/94

82 in a dazzling stream of fire, so powerfully does the oxygen support combustion. Fig. 26.

Again, here is another experiment which will serve to illustrate the force, if I may so call it, of oxygen I have here a circular flame of spirit of wine, and with it I am about to show you the way in which iron burns, because it will serve very well as a comparison between the effect produced by air and oxygen. If I take this ring flame, I can shake by means of a sieve the fine particles of iron filings through it, and you will see the way in which they burn. [The Lecturer here shook through the flame some iron filings which took fire and fell through with beautiful scintillations.] But if I now hold the flame over a jar of oxygen [the experiment was repeated over