Note 172 — RESEARCH II.

Experiments on the detonation of nitrous oxide with phosphorus in this way require great attention. The detonating jar should be very conical; the nitrous oxide employed should never equal more than one eighth of the capacity of the jar. The wire for the inflammation must be very thick, and curved so as to be easily introduced into the jar. When ignited, it must be instantaneously passed through the heated mercury into the jar.

Perhaps the electric spark might be advantageously applied for detonating phosphoric vapor with nitrous oxide.