Contents
Transmutations.PageThe Spectral Lamp1Curious Change of Colours2The Protean Light2The Chameleon Flowers3To change the Colours of Flowers3Changes of the Poppy3To change the Colour of a Rose4Light changing White into Black4The Visibly growing Acorn4Changes in Sap-Green5To revive apparently dead Plants5Singular effect of Tears5Beauties of Crystallization5To crystallize Camphor7Crystallized Tin7Crystals in hard Water7Varieties of Crystals7Heat from Crystallization8Splendid Sublimation8Artificial Ice8Magic Inks8Chameleon Liquids9The Magic Dyes9Wine changed into Water10Two colourless transparent Liquids become black and opaque10Two colourless Fluids make a coloured one10Change of colour by colourless Fluids10To change a Blue Liquid to White11Veritable “Black” Tea11Restoration of Colour by Water11The Magic Writing12Two Liquids make a Solid12Two Solids make a Liquid12A solid opaque mass made a transparent Liquid12Two cold Liquids make a hot one12Quadruple Transmutation13Quintuple Transmutation13Combination of Colours13Union of two Metals without Heat13Magic Breath13Two Bitters make a Sweet14Visible and Invisible14Sight and Sound.Artificial Mirage17Motion of the Eye18Single Vision with two Eyes19Two objects seen as one19Only one object can be seen at a time20Straight objects seen crooked20Optical Illusion21Pin-hole Focus21Optical Deceptions22Accuracy of Sight22Visual Deception23Handwriting upon the Wall23Imitative Haloes23To read a Coin in the dark24To make a Prism24Optical Augmentation25Gold Fish in a glass Globe26Colours produced by the unequal action of Light upon the Eyes26Optical Deception27Coloured Shadows27Colours of Scratches27Ocular Spectra28Beautiful Colours of Mother of Pearl28White Letters seen further than Black29Artificial Rainbow29Fringe about a Candle29The Double Coloured Reflection30Luminous Cross30Ring of Colours round a Candle30Simple and Cheap Opera-glass31Multiplying Theatres31Apparatus for Writing in the Dark32Portable Microscope33The Phenakistiscope or Stroboscope34To look at the Sun without injury35Brilliant Water Mirror35Optical Illusion under Water35The Magic Wheels36Acoustic Rainbow37Transmission of Sound37Progress of Sound39Sound turning Corners39To tell the distance of Thunder40Hearing by the Touch40Conversation for the Deaf40Glass broken by the Voice41Figures produced by Sound41Transmitted Vibration42Double Vibration42Champagne and Sound42Music from Palisades43Theory of the Jew’s Harp43Music of the Snail44To tune a Guitar without the assistance of the Ear44Music from Glass or Metal Rods44The Tuning-fork a Flute-player45Musical Bottles46Theory of Whispering46Theory of the Voice46Sound along a Wall47Sounds more audible by Night than by Day47Musical Echo47Ventriloquism48Light and Heat.Flashes of Light upon revolving Wheels53Decomposition of Light54Solar Refraction54Incantations55To imitate the Light of the Sea55Instantaneous Lights56To colour the Flame of a Candle57To divide the Flame of a Candle57Cane Wick Lamp58Camphor and Platinum Lamp58Platinum and Ether Lamp58Floating Light59Substitute for a Wax Taper59Phosphorescent Fish59The Luminous Spectre59Light, a Painter60Effect of Light upon Crystallization60Effect of Light on Plants60Instantaneous Light upon Ice61White Light from Zinc61Brilliant Light from two Metals61Brilliant Light from Steel61Lighted Tin62Light from Gilt Buttons62Light from a Flower62Light from Sugar62Light from the Potato63Light from the Oyster63Light from Derbyshire Spar63Light from Oyster-shells64Rings of Light in Crystal64To strike Light with Cane64Cause of Transparency64Transparency of Gold65Tint changed by Thickness65Shadows made darker by increased Light65Miniature Thunder and Lightning66The Burning Glass66Magic of Heat66Repulsion by Heat67Heat passing through Glass68Metals unequally influenced by Heat68Spontaneous Combustion69Inequality of Heat in Fire irons69Expansion of Metal by Heat69Evaporation of a Metal69A Floating Metal on Fire70Heat and Cold from Flannel70Ice melted by Air70To hold a hot Tea-kettle on the Hand70Incombustible Linen71The Burning Circle71Water of different Temperatures in the same Vessel71Warmth of different Colours71Substitute for Fire72Gas and Steam.Laughing Gas75The Luminous Wand76To make Carbonic Acid Gas76Carbonic Acid Gas in Wine or Beer Vessels76To extinguish Flame with Gas77Effect of Hydrogen on the Voice77Magic Taper78The Gas Candle78Gas Bubbles78Gas-light in the day-time79Miniature Balloons79Miniature Gas-lighting79Musical Gas80Miniature Will o’-the-wisp81Phosphoric Illumination81Combustion of Iron in Oxygen Gas81Glow-worm in Oxygen Gas82Luminous Charcoal82Brilliant Combustion in Oxygen82Flame from Cold Metals83Phosphorus in Chlorine83Caoutchouc Balloons84To increase the Light of Coal Gas84Gas from Indian Rubber84Ether Gas85Magic Vapour85Gas from the union of Metals85Invisible Gases made Visible86Light under Water86Gaseous Evanescence86Violet-coloured Gas86To collect Gases87The Deflagrating Spoon87What is Steam?87The Steam Engine simplified88To boil Water by Steam88Distillation in Miniature89Candle or Fire Crackers89Steam from the Kettle89Fire, Water, and Air.Coloured Flames93Yellow Flame94Orange-coloured Flame94Emerald Green Flame94Instantaneous Flame94The Cup of Flame95To cool Flame by Metal95Proof that Flame is Hollow95Camphor sublimed by Flame95Green Fire96Brilliant Red Fire96Purple Fire96Silver Fire97The Fiery Fountain97The Artificial Conflagration97Inflammable Powder97Combustion without Flame98Combustion of Three Metals98To make Paper Incombustible98Singular Experiments with Glass Tubes98Aquatic Bomb99Heat not to be estimated by Touch99Flame upon Water100Rose-coloured Flame on Water100To set a Mixture on Fire with Water100Waves of Fire on Water100Explosion in Water101Water from the Flame of a Candle101Formation of Water by Fire101Boiling upon Cold Water101Currents in Boiling Water102Hot Water lighter than Cold102Expansion of Water by Cold102The Cup of Tantalus103Imitative Diving Bell103The Water-proof Sieve104More than full104To cause Wine and Water to change places104Pyramid of Alum104Visible Vibration105Charcoal in Sugar106Floating Needles106Water in a Sling106Attraction in a Glass of Water106To prevent Cork floating in Water107Instantaneous Freezing107To freeze Water with Ether107Production of Nitre108Curious Transposition108Animal Barometer108Magic Soap108Equal Pressure of Water109To empty a Glass under Water109To empty a Glass of Water without touching it109Decomposition of Water110Water heavier than Wine110To inflate a Bladder without Air110Air and Water Balloon110Heated Air Balloon111The Pneumatic Tinder-box111The Bacchus Experiment111The Mysterious Circles112Prince Rupert’s Drops114Vegetable Hygrometer114The Pneumatic Dancer115The Ascending Snake116The Pneumatic Phial116Resin Bubbles117Moisture of the Atmosphere117Climates of a Room117Bubbles in Champagne118Proofs that Air is a heavy Fluid118To support a Pea on Air119Pyrophorus, or Air-tinder119Beauty of a Soap-bubble120Why a Guinea falls more quickly than a Feather through the Air121Solidity of Air122Breathing and Smelling122Sleights and Subtleties.The Ring and the Handkerchief127The Knotted Handkerchief128The Invisible Springs130The Miraculous Apple131The Self-balanced Pail132The Phantom at command132The Miraculous Shilling134The Locomotive Shilling135The Penetrative Sixpence136The Vanishing Sixpence136To make a Sixpence balance and spin on its edge on the point of a Needle137The Multiplying Coin137The Magic Rat Trap137The Velocity of Motion138The Exploding Bubble139The Magic Picture139Artificial Lightning140Three objects discernible only with both Eyes140To tell by a Watch Dial the Hour when a Person intends to rise140To make a Ring suspend by a Thread, after the Thread has been burned141To melt a piece of Money in a Walnut-shell without injuring the Shell141The Magical Mirrors142The Enchanted Bottle143The Armed Apparition143To extract the Silver out of a Ring that is thickly Gilded, so that the Gold may remain entire144Curious Experiment with a Glass of Water144A Luminous Bottle, which will show the Hour on a Watch in the Dark144The Wonderful Hat145To bring a Person down upon a Feather145The Apparent Impossibility146An Omelet cooked in a Hat over the Flame of a Candle146The Impossible Omelet147Go if you can147The Figure Puzzle147The Visible Invisible147The Double Meaning148Quite tired out148Something out of the Common148To rub one Sixpence into two149Magic Circle149Melange.Illusions of Touch153Illusion of the Taste154The General Bleacher154Influence of coloured Glass on bulbous Roots155The Spinning-top “asleep”155To judge of Weights156Quicksilver and Oil united156To dissolve the Soda in Glass156Waterproof Paper157To Dissolve Gold or Platinum157Colder than Ice157Contra-crystallization157One and one do not make two158To copy Writing instantly158The Rival Dials158To spin Indian Rubber158Indelible Writing159Vegetable Anatomy159To tell what o’Clock it is by the Moon160The Physiognotype161Infinite Divisibility of Matter161Holding the Breath162Sand in the Hour-Glass162Resistance of Sand163Glass broken by Sand164To bleach Ivory164Vanishing Shells164The Magic Egg164The Magic Whirlpool165Magic Porcelain167A Galvanic Tongue168Drinking Porter out of Pewter168Electric or Galvanic Preservation168Light from the Diamond169To break a Stone with a blow of the Fist169Mimic Frost-work169To melt Lead in a piece of Paper170Hydrostatic Balance170Metallic Reduction171Electrical Attraction and Repulsion171Alchemical Electricity172The Electric Balls173The Electric Dance173Electric Light173Electric Light from Brown Paper174Sudden Production of Light174Electricity of the Cat174
The Spectral Lamp
Curious Change of Colours
The Protean Light
The Chameleon Flowers
To change the Colours of Flowers
Changes of the Poppy
To change the Colour of a Rose
Light changing White into Black
The Visibly growing Acorn
Changes in Sap-Green
To revive apparently dead Plants
Singular effect of Tears
Beauties of Crystallization
To crystallize Camphor
Crystallized Tin
Crystals in hard Water
Varieties of Crystals
Heat from Crystallization
Splendid Sublimation
Artificial Ice
Magic Inks
Chameleon Liquids
The Magic Dyes
Wine changed into Water
Two colourless transparent Liquids become black and opaque
Two colourless Fluids make a coloured one
Change of colour by colourless Fluids
To change a Blue Liquid to White
Veritable “Black” Tea
Restoration of Colour by Water
The Magic Writing
Two Liquids make a Solid
Two Solids make a Liquid
A solid opaque mass made a transparent Liquid
Two cold Liquids make a hot one
Quadruple Transmutation
Quintuple Transmutation
Combination of Colours
Union of two Metals without Heat
Magic Breath
Two Bitters make a Sweet
Visible and Invisible
Artificial Mirage
Motion of the Eye
Single Vision with two Eyes
Two objects seen as one
Only one object can be seen at a time
Straight objects seen crooked
Optical Illusion
Pin-hole Focus
Optical Deceptions
Accuracy of Sight
Visual Deception
Handwriting upon the Wall
Imitative Haloes
To read a Coin in the dark
To make a Prism
Optical Augmentation
Gold Fish in a glass Globe
Colours produced by the unequal action of Light upon the Eyes
Optical Deception
Coloured Shadows
Colours of Scratches
Ocular Spectra
Beautiful Colours of Mother of Pearl
White Letters seen further than Black
Artificial Rainbow
Fringe about a Candle
The Double Coloured Reflection
Luminous Cross
Ring of Colours round a Candle
Simple and Cheap Opera-glass
Multiplying Theatres
Apparatus for Writing in the Dark
Portable Microscope
The Phenakistiscope or Stroboscope
To look at the Sun without injury
Brilliant Water Mirror
Optical Illusion under Water
The Magic Wheels
Acoustic Rainbow
Transmission of Sound
Progress of Sound
Sound turning Corners
To tell the distance of Thunder
Hearing by the Touch
Conversation for the Deaf
Glass broken by the Voice
Figures produced by Sound
Transmitted Vibration
Double Vibration
Champagne and Sound
Music from Palisades
Theory of the Jew’s Harp
Music of the Snail
To tune a Guitar without the assistance of the Ear
Music from Glass or Metal Rods
The Tuning-fork a Flute-player
Musical Bottles
Theory of Whispering
Theory of the Voice
Sound along a Wall
Sounds more audible by Night than by Day
Musical Echo
Ventriloquism
Flashes of Light upon revolving Wheels
Decomposition of Light
Solar Refraction
Incantations
To imitate the Light of the Sea
Instantaneous Lights
To colour the Flame of a Candle
To divide the Flame of a Candle
Cane Wick Lamp
Camphor and Platinum Lamp
Platinum and Ether Lamp
Floating Light
Substitute for a Wax Taper
Phosphorescent Fish
The Luminous Spectre
Light, a Painter
Effect of Light upon Crystallization
Effect of Light on Plants
Instantaneous Light upon Ice
White Light from Zinc
Brilliant Light from two Metals
Brilliant Light from Steel
Lighted Tin
Light from Gilt Buttons
Light from a Flower
Light from Sugar
Light from the Potato
Light from the Oyster
Light from Derbyshire Spar
Light from Oyster-shells
Rings of Light in Crystal
To strike Light with Cane
Cause of Transparency
Transparency of Gold
Tint changed by Thickness
Shadows made darker by increased Light
Miniature Thunder and Lightning
The Burning Glass
Magic of Heat
Repulsion by Heat
Heat passing through Glass
Metals unequally influenced by Heat
Spontaneous Combustion
Inequality of Heat in Fire irons
Expansion of Metal by Heat
Evaporation of a Metal
A Floating Metal on Fire
Heat and Cold from Flannel
Ice melted by Air
To hold a hot Tea-kettle on the Hand
Incombustible Linen
The Burning Circle
Water of different Temperatures in the same Vessel
Warmth of different Colours
Substitute for Fire
Laughing Gas
The Luminous Wand
To make Carbonic Acid Gas
Carbonic Acid Gas in Wine or Beer Vessels
To extinguish Flame with Gas
Effect of Hydrogen on the Voice
Magic Taper
The Gas Candle
Gas Bubbles
Gas-light in the day-time
Miniature Balloons
Miniature Gas-lighting
Musical Gas
Miniature Will o’-the-wisp
Phosphoric Illumination
Combustion of Iron in Oxygen Gas
Glow-worm in Oxygen Gas
Luminous Charcoal
Brilliant Combustion in Oxygen
Flame from Cold Metals
Phosphorus in Chlorine
Caoutchouc Balloons
To increase the Light of Coal Gas
Gas from Indian Rubber
Ether Gas
Magic Vapour
Gas from the union of Metals
Invisible Gases made Visible
Light under Water
Gaseous Evanescence
Violet-coloured Gas
To collect Gases
The Deflagrating Spoon
What is Steam?
The Steam Engine simplified
To boil Water by Steam
Distillation in Miniature
Candle or Fire Crackers
Steam from the Kettle
Coloured Flames
Yellow Flame
Orange-coloured Flame
Emerald Green Flame
Instantaneous Flame
The Cup of Flame
To cool Flame by Metal
Proof that Flame is Hollow
Camphor sublimed by Flame
Green Fire
Brilliant Red Fire
Purple Fire
Silver Fire
The Fiery Fountain
The Artificial Conflagration
Inflammable Powder
Combustion without Flame
Combustion of Three Metals
To make Paper Incombustible
Singular Experiments with Glass Tubes
Aquatic Bomb
Heat not to be estimated by Touch
Flame upon Water
Rose-coloured Flame on Water
To set a Mixture on Fire with Water
Waves of Fire on Water
Explosion in Water
Water from the Flame of a Candle
Formation of Water by Fire
Boiling upon Cold Water
Currents in Boiling Water
Hot Water lighter than Cold
Expansion of Water by Cold
The Cup of Tantalus
Imitative Diving Bell
The Water-proof Sieve
More than full
To cause Wine and Water to change places
Pyramid of Alum
Visible Vibration
Charcoal in Sugar
Floating Needles
Water in a Sling
Attraction in a Glass of Water
To prevent Cork floating in Water
Instantaneous Freezing
To freeze Water with Ether
Production of Nitre
Curious Transposition
Animal Barometer
Magic Soap
Equal Pressure of Water
To empty a Glass under Water
To empty a Glass of Water without touching it
Decomposition of Water
Water heavier than Wine
To inflate a Bladder without Air
Air and Water Balloon
Heated Air Balloon
The Pneumatic Tinder-box
The Bacchus Experiment
The Mysterious Circles
Prince Rupert’s Drops
Vegetable Hygrometer
The Pneumatic Dancer
The Ascending Snake
The Pneumatic Phial
Resin Bubbles
Moisture of the Atmosphere
Climates of a Room
Bubbles in Champagne
Proofs that Air is a heavy Fluid
To support a Pea on Air
Pyrophorus, or Air-tinder
Beauty of a Soap-bubble
Why a Guinea falls more quickly than a Feather through the Air
Solidity of Air
Breathing and Smelling
The Ring and the Handkerchief
The Knotted Handkerchief
The Invisible Springs
The Miraculous Apple
The Self-balanced Pail
The Phantom at command
The Miraculous Shilling
The Locomotive Shilling
The Penetrative Sixpence
The Vanishing Sixpence
To make a Sixpence balance and spin on its edge on the point of a Needle
The Multiplying Coin
The Magic Rat Trap
The Velocity of Motion
The Exploding Bubble
The Magic Picture
Artificial Lightning
Three objects discernible only with both Eyes
To tell by a Watch Dial the Hour when a Person intends to rise
To make a Ring suspend by a Thread, after the Thread has been burned
To melt a piece of Money in a Walnut-shell without injuring the Shell
The Magical Mirrors
The Enchanted Bottle
The Armed Apparition
To extract the Silver out of a Ring that is thickly Gilded, so that the Gold may remain entire
Curious Experiment with a Glass of Water
A Luminous Bottle, which will show the Hour on a Watch in the Dark
The Wonderful Hat
To bring a Person down upon a Feather
The Apparent Impossibility
An Omelet cooked in a Hat over the Flame of a Candle
The Impossible Omelet
Go if you can
The Figure Puzzle
The Visible Invisible
The Double Meaning
Quite tired out
Something out of the Common
To rub one Sixpence into two
Magic Circle
Illusions of Touch
Illusion of the Taste
The General Bleacher
Influence of coloured Glass on bulbous Roots
The Spinning-top “asleep”
To judge of Weights
Quicksilver and Oil united
To dissolve the Soda in Glass
Waterproof Paper
To Dissolve Gold or Platinum
Colder than Ice
Contra-crystallization
One and one do not make two
To copy Writing instantly
The Rival Dials
To spin Indian Rubber
Indelible Writing
Vegetable Anatomy
To tell what o’Clock it is by the Moon
The Physiognotype
Infinite Divisibility of Matter
Holding the Breath
Sand in the Hour-Glass
Resistance of Sand
Glass broken by Sand
To bleach Ivory
Vanishing Shells
The Magic Egg
The Magic Whirlpool
Magic Porcelain
A Galvanic Tongue
Drinking Porter out of Pewter
Electric or Galvanic Preservation
Light from the Diamond
To break a Stone with a blow of the Fist
Mimic Frost-work
To melt Lead in a piece of Paper
Hydrostatic Balance
Metallic Reduction
Electrical Attraction and Repulsion
Alchemical Electricity
The Electric Balls
The Electric Dance
Electric Light
Electric Light from Brown Paper
Sudden Production of Light
Electricity of the Cat