The following table, showing the lowest temperature of the plate and the temperature of the spheroid for certain liquids, is given by Boutigny:

—

Liquid employed.Temperature of Plate.Temperature of Spheroid.
°F.°C.°F.°C.
Water340171205·796·4
Alcohol273134167·975·5
Ether1426193·634·2
Sulphurous anhydride......13·110·5

Solids may also be made to assume the spheroidal condition, as when, for instance, some crystals of iodine are thrown upon a red-hot platinum disc, or into a platinum crucible similarly heated.

[182] Miller.

The nature of the plate or crucible employed appears to be immaterial, provided it is a good conductor. Platinum, silver, copper, and iron answer equally well; indeed, Tomlinson has shown that one liquid may even be made to assume the spheroidal state, on the surface of another, as when water, alcohol, and ether are placed upon hot oil. If the experiment be conducted with water it must be carefully managed, since, if the water be allowed to sink in the oil, it soon becomes converted into steam, with the result of scattering about the hot oil to the danger of the operator.

Boutigny has advanced the opinion that the property of water to assume the spheroidal state under the conditions we have specified will account for certain cases of explosion in steam-boilers. Thus we can imagine a boiler, which has run dry of water, to have become intensely overheated. Under these circumstances, when fresh water was admitted it would at first assume the spheroidal state; and as more cold water flowed into it, the boiler would become thereby reduced in temperature until it reached the point at which its conversion into steam would take place; the sudden generation, large volume, and elastic force of which would lead to the rupture of the boiler, accompanied with explosive violence.

SPICE. A general name for vegetable substances possessing aromatic and pungent properties, and employed for seasoning or flavouring food.

Spice, Horse. Syn. Cow spice; Species equinus, L. Prep. 1. Aniseed, allspice, cumin seed, ginger, liquorice, and turmeric, equal parts.

2. Turmeric and cumin seed, of each 5 lbs.; ginger, 21⁄2 lbs. Used by farriers.