Chemical Illuminations

Put into a middling-sized bottle, with a short wide neck, three ounces

of oil or spirit of vitriol, with twelve ounces of common water, and

throw into it, at different times, an ounce or two of iron filings. A

violent commotion will then take place, and white vapours will arise

from the mixture. If a taper be held to the mouth of the bottle, these

vapours will inflame and produce a violent explosion, which may be

repeated as long as the vapours continue.