C 187 3

XL On

the Affections

Bodies.

of Light transmitted through crystallized

By David

F. S A. Edin.

Brewster,

LL. B.

In a Letter to Sir

F. R. S. Edin. and

Humphry Davy, LL.D.

F.R.S.
Read December

Dear

In

23, 1813.

Sir,

a former paper* on "

Some

Properties of Light/* which

took the liberty of addressing to you, and which the Royal

Society honoured with a place in their Transactions, I attempted
to give a brief abstract of a set of experiments,

on the Pro-

perties of transparent Bodies in refracting, dispersing,

and

An

account of the instruments

and methods employed

in these

experiments has since that

time been published in

my

polarising the rays of Light.

" Treatise on

new

philosophical

Instruments/*

From the general object of these researches, however, I have

been allured into a new field of inquiry, by the discovery of
a singular property of light transmitted through the agate, and

the prosecution of the views which

some very extraordinary

it

suggested has led to

results, which, while

they seem to

conduct us into the very mysteries of physical optics, exhibit at

the

same time a

series

of appearances which far surpass, both in

splendour and variety , all the phenomena of light under its usual
transformations.

In again soliciting you to communicate these

observations to the Royal Society,

logy.

They

I trust I

need

no apowhich you

offer

are closely allied with that science

have so widely extended by the most profound and

* Phil. Trans, for the year 1813, p. 101*

Bba

brilliant

Dr. Brewster on

188

discoveries; and

it

is

the Affections

of Light

probably from the cultivation of

this

department of physics, that philosophy will be enabled to unfold the secrets of double refraction, to explain the forms

and

structure of crystaljized bodies, and to develope the nature

and

properties of that ethereal matter, which, while

nature by

it

enlivens all

presence, performs also a capital part in the

its

operations of the material world.

The

different subjects of

lowing

letter

may be

which

mean

to treat in the fol-

included under five heads.

On the polarising power

II. On the structure of the

of the agate.

I.

tical

agate as connected with

op-

its

properties.

On the peculiar colours exhibited by the agate.

IV. On the depolarisation of light.
V. On the elliptical coloured rings produced by obliquely
III.

depolarising crystals.

L On
I

the polarising

have already shewn,

Power of the Agate.

former paper, that a ray of light

in a

transmitted through a plate of agate cut by planes perpendicular to the laminae of which
tion like

it is

composed,

suffers polarisa-

one of the pencils formed by double refraction.

the light thus polarised

is

pendicular to the laminae of the agate,

refraction

having

its

which the
if

it is

if it is

upon

incident at a particular angle

any transparent body, so that the plane of reflection

it

will

If

is

per-

experience a total

transmitted through another plate of agate,

by

laminae at right angles to those of the plate

light

is

polarised,

examined by

its

will suffer total reflection;

and

prism of Iceland crystal turned round

the hand of the observer,

quadrant of

it

it

will vanish

circular motion.

and reappear

in

in

every

transmitted through crystallized Bodies,,

The

pencil of rays to

which

communicated is surrounded by

this

189

remarkable property

a large

mass of nebulous

is

light,

which extends about 7 30' in length, and i 7' in breadth on

each side of the bright image.* This nebulous light never
vanished with the bright image which
viously affected with

its

it

enclosed, but was ob-

different changes, increasing in

mag-

nitude as the bright image diminished, and diminishing as the

bright image regained

its

lustre.

From

this

circumstance

was led to conjecture " that the structure of the agate was

in

" a state of approach to that particular kind of crystallisation

" which affords double images, and that the nebulous light was
" an imperfect image arising from that imperfection of struc-

" ture."

On

the supposition that this conjecture was well founded,

imagined,

in

conformity with the general analogy of all doubly

refracting crystals, that the bright image and the nebulous

were produced by two

light
I

different refractive

powers, and

expected to separate the one from the other by forming the

agate into a prism with a considerable refracting angle. Every

attempt of this kind, however, was fruitless

separation of the images

employed, and

which

mode

of investigation.

Having procured a
parent,

On

admitted a

was

effected by

plate of agate

beam of

light

to

remarkably

abandon

thin

from the sky

this

and trans-

into a

dark

each side of the bright image I have observed a condensation of the nebulous

which increase

treated

any of the prisms

was therefore obliged

light resembling two imperfect images of the luminous body.

colours,

no perceptible

in

number by

inclining the agate, are slightly tinged with the prismatic

which evidently belong to that

by Dr.

These imperfect images,

Thomas Young,

class

in his late

of phenomena which have been so ably

work on Medical

Literature.

Dr. Brewster on

iq

room through

the Affections of

Light

narrow rectangular aperture*

aperture was viewed through the agate,

with a very considerable nebulosity

it

When

this

was surrounded

and by interposing a

prism of Iceland spar between the agate and the eye, and giving

a motion of rotation, the nebulous light

it

became very

when

the bright image vanished, and alnidst completely

disappeared

when the bright image had reached its greatest

The bright and the nebulous images, therefore,

dense

brilliancy.

comported themselves exactly

like the

two images formed by

doubly refracting crystals; and the small portion of nebulous

which surrounded the bright image at its maximum

lustre, was obviously produced either by the imperfect polish
light,

of the agate, or by
the plane of
It will

its

not being cut exactly at right angles to

laminae.

be seen from a subsequent section of

light polarised
larised,

its

this letter, that

by the agate, or by any other means,

or partly restored to

its

original state,

is

depo-

by being trans-

mitted in a particular direction through a plate of mica, or

any other crystallized body. I therefore interposed a plate of

mica between the agate and the Iceland spar when the nebulous light had nearly disappeared, and having adjusted it to
the depolarising position, the nebulous light was instantly
revived round the bright image, while the other bright image

which had disappeared resumed

its

place in the middle of the

other nebulous mass.

When a pencil of light polarised and afterwards depolarised,

in a

manner to be afterwards

a plate of agate, the red* rays

*

The

described,

is

transmitted through

go to the formation of

red and the green are complementary to each other.

the bright

The same

result is

obtained if the blue and yellow, or any other two complementary colours are used.

transmitted through crystallized Bodies.

igt

Image, while the green rays compose the nebulous light, so

we have a red bright image enveloped in a cloud of green

By turning round the agate go the bright image is
light.
that

formed by the green rays, while the nebulous image

of the red rays, so that
cled

we have

by a mass of nebulous red

agate

we

substitute a

dinary one

is

a green bright image encir-

light.

If in the place of the

doubly refracting crystal,

be found that the ordinary image

consists

is

will

it

always

green when the extraor-

red, and that they assume these colours alter-

nately during the motion of the prism round the axis of vision.

From

these experiments,

we may

consider

strated, that the nebulous light has the

bright image, as the

tals that

first

same

it

relation to the

has to the second image of

have the property of double refraction.*

appear, however, that the nebulous image

is

demon-

as

It

all

crys-

does not

produced by a

greater refractive power than that by which the bright image

formed. There

is

in opposition to

is

on the contrary every reason

the analogy of

that the agate gives

crystallized bodies,

all

to conclude,

doubly refracting f crystals,

two images and polarises them like other

while the one image is placed exactly in

the centre of the other.

On

II.

the Structure

of the Agate as connected with

its

optical

properties.

When we
agate,

we

examine a piece of transparent and well polished

perceive a

number of bands or

stripes,

which are

* See Edinburgh Trans. Vol. VII. Part II.

It will

be seen from a subsequent paper, that many other bodies both of mineral,

animal, and vegetable.origin bave the properly of forming two image* polarised in an
opposite manner, but not produced by two different refractive powers.

Br. Brewster on the Affections of Light

192

the sections of a succession of laminae that are sometimes

parallel, but in general concentric.

when seen by

a milky white colour

These laminae are often of

reflected light,

and some-

times nearly as transparent and colourless as glass, and the

commonly

white laminae

The

alternate with the transparent ones.

laminae which are white

brown by

when seen by

reflected light, are

transmitted light, and the intensity of this

brown

colour increases with the thickness of the plate of agate.

The

transparent laminae exhibit three varieties of structure.

'The first variety, which appears to be the coarsest, consists

of a

number of small

serpentine lines like the figures 333333,

lying parallel to each other, and closely resembling the surface of standing water

when

the sandy bottom of a slow

lines are

always arranged

and are seen very

ruffled

by a gentle breeze, or

moving stream. These serpentine

the laminae,

in a direction parallel to

distinctly

even when the agate

is

so thin as

the 150th part of an inch.

The

second variety of structure differs from the

in the serpentine lines

first,

only

having a much smaller size; and the

laminae which have this structure appear the finest and most
transparent.

The
pear to

third variety has

differ

the light

we may

lines,

and does not ap-

from other semi-transparent bodies.

more

structures,

no serpentine

It

admits

copiously in all directions than any of the other

and as

consider

it

it

does not polarise

it

in a similar

as possessing, in a different

manner,

way, that

kind of crystallisation which polarises the incident light by

separating

The

it

into

two

pencils.

white veins sometimes exhibit the

ture, but in several

first

variety of struc-

specimens the veins appear to be fibrous

transmitted through crystallized Bodies,

In their structure,

193

the fibres stretching at right angles to the

laminae through the whole of their thickness.

These
fig. 1

different structures will be better understood

and 2 of Plate V. Fig.

1,

represents the specimen of

agate with incurvated veins which

paper.*

It is

composed of two

from

have noticed

in a

veins,

AB, CD, and

three trans-

AEB, ABDC, and CFD.

former

The

transparent

portions exhibit the second variety of structure,

though the

parent portions

marked

small serpentine lines are not so distinctly

The two

specimens.

by

reflected light.

inch and

veins

The

AB, CD,

are both white

breadth of

AB

is

radius of curvature if inch, and

its

smaller veins mn, op, qr, zvx.

as in other

when

one-tenth of an
it

consists offour

The light reflected by mn is

white, and the light transmitted by

the other parts of the vein.

The

a brighter white, and that which

it

it

a lighter

light

seen

a paler

brown than

which op

reflects

transmits of a deeper

is

as op.

The

tufts

of

brown

than in the other parts of the vein, and at the junction of

and op there are several

in

mn

of fibres of the same character

other divisions of the vein qr and

mn

intermediate character between

and

op.

wx

The

are of an

vein

CD

re-

sembles the division mn, and possesses, like AB, the fibrous
structure already describedis

one-fiftieth part

and a

line

AC

of an inch

The thickness of the

;

AC

is

plate

AEDC

three-tenths of an inch

forms an angle of about 25 with

a plane per-

pendicular to the laminae.

Figure

2,

character.

DE, EF,
and

represents another specimen of agate of a different

It

consists of transparent portions

AB, BC, CD*

separated from each other by white veins Bh, Cc 9

distinctly exhibiting the second variety of structure

* See Phil. Trans. 1S13, Part I.

MDCGCXJV.

Scc.

and

*n

ig%

Brewster

on the Affections of Light

of other transparent portions

by

variety of

All the veins possess a structure approaching to

structure.

that of the first variety,

tensity of the light

we measure

Gg, Kk exceeding the

which they

when

rest in the in-

and transmit

reflect

the quantity of light transmitted through a

plate of agate containing veins,

mum

IK, KL, separated

Gg, Hh, &e. but exhibiting the first

similar veins

If

FG, GH, HI,

it

will

be found to be a maxi-

the direction of the incident rays

interior surfaces of the veins.

When

is

parallel to the

the light, however,

is

transmitted through a part of the agate of an uniform trans-

parency, and perfectly free from veins, the same result will
be obtained, the intensity of the light being a
its direction is parallel to that

AB,

If

sented in

and mn, op, the direction of the laminae inclined

25 to the surfaces of the

RS

direction

than

of the laminae.

be a section of the specimen of agate repre-

fig. 3,

fig. 1,

parallel to

when they

plate, rays of light incident in the

mn

more

are

copiously transmitted

great diminution

TV,

its

the pencil

side, as

colour

PQ,

is

These
tion

mn

if

its

is

the

lustre suffers a

the light gradually assumes a red colour,

and vanishes altogether when the obliquity

if

When

are incident in any other direction.

pencil of light falls in the direction

But

maximum when

incident at the

is

considerable.

same angle on the opposite

lustre suffers very

li tie

diminution, and

its

not sensibly altered.

facts admit, to a certain extent,

we suppose

of an easy explana-

that the plate of agate consists of laminae

op imperfectly transparent, alternating with laminae cd%

which are more pervious to light,

by the existence of

a structure

which

ef,

is

indicated

a bright and a nebulous image.

In this

case the intensity of the light will obviously be a

maximum

transmitted through crystallized Bodies.

195

PQ

will, within

when the ray RS

parallel to tnn 9

is

and a ray

certain limits, suffer less diminution of lustre than a ray

same angle of incidence on the other

falling with the

TV
side

of RS.

When RS and mn are perpendicular to the surfaces of AB,

and when PQ and TV form equal angles with the perpendicular RS, their intensity should be equal

means the
the side
that

which

is

hut this

which

case, for the transmitted light

T of RS

is

is

by no

incident

on

appears to have a different character from

on the other

incident

suppose that there

is

some other

We

side.

must therefore

peculiarity of structure in the

agate, connected probably with that particular kind of crystallisation

which polarises

light, to

which

curious fact

this

must be ascribed.*

The

intensity of the light transmitted

its

fig. 4, is incident

upon

reflection

during

its

now

a piece of agate

like-

so as to be polarised
it is

polarised

passage from r to E, the bright image will suffer

E, while the nebulous image will be trans-

common

light in the direction

EG.

If the agate is

turned round go* the nebulous image will suffer total

reflection at E, while the bright

cond surface

Rr

AB,

from the second surface, then, since

total reflection at

mitted like

is

polarising property. If a ray Rr, Plate V.,

wise affected by

by

by the agate

at

like

common

image

light.

will penetrate the se-

When the

incident ray

has different obliquities and the agate intermediate posi-

tions, the intensity of the transmitted light will

less affected

The

by

its

be more or

polarising power.

preceding observations on the laminated structure of

* See

Edinburgh Transactions, Vol. VII. Part

c 2

II.

ig6

Dr.

Brewster

on the Affections of Light

the agate enable us to give a satisfactory explanation of

som

singular appearances exhibited by that mineral*

shewn

In the specimen

in

Plate

VM

fig, 5,

the black lines

represent the veins, and consequently the direction of the

la mince,

and the dotted

lines ab, ac f cm, ck,

&c. are drawn

through the vertices of the angles made by the veins

and

consequently by the laminae whenever they change their direc-

When

tion.

light

is

transmitted through a piece of agate of

Aacm, mck, ngf> nhg have the appearinclined to one another, and transmit

this description, the planes

ance of being differently

different quantities of light.

served the

same

If the veins

and the laminae pre-

inclination to the surface of the plate of agate

when they changed their direction at the lines ac, cm, de, the
phenomenon which has been mentioned could not take place;
but whenever the laminae change their direction, their inclination to the surface likewise changes,
sity

and therefore the inten-

of the transmitted light experiences a corresponding

variation as the rays

have

to traverse different lengths of the

imperfectly transparent laminae.

When

the veins and the laminae are incurvated like those

in the portion
this

change

is

Aacm,

their inclination likewise changes, but as

gradual and not sudden, as

in the

former case,

the intensity of the transmitted light suffers a gradual variation,

and the portion Aacm has the appearance of being concave.

When

the laminae therefore are arranged in a circular form,

they will resemble a number of dimples, the apparent concavity of

which

will in

some

cases

depend on the curvature

of the laminae, and will exhibit the phenomenon of the ham-

mered agate.

transmitted through crystallized Bodies.

On

III.

In

my

the peculiar Colours exhibited by the

former

letter

igj

Agate.

on the polarising power of the agate,

noticed the existence of a coloured image which appeared on

each side of the

common

colourless image, and which

polarised in a similar manner.

phenomenon

in

have since observed the same

other specimens, and though

able to discover
will

its

cause,

was

have not been

trust the following observations

be of some service to future inquirers.

In the specimen represented, in Plate V., fig, 2, the colours

appear only when the rays of

light are transmitted

the veins B, C, D, E, F, G, H,

grained portions

Fg*,

Gh, Hi,

are covered, no colour

is

I,

Ik,

through

K, or through the coarse

K/eL,

and when these parts

If the eye, therefore,

perceived.

is

placed behind any of the coarse grained parts, and close to the
agate, a colourless

each side of

it

image of a candle

brilliant,

The

colours, which are ex-

are blue, green, yellow, and red, reckoning

from the common image.

similar

and on

image forming an angle of

a highly coloured

io| with the colourless image.

tremely

will be visible,

second image coloured in a

manner, but considerably

fainter, is

distinctly seen

forming with the colourless image an angle of about 21

When

the agate

is

held some inches distant from the eye,

the colours appear diffused over the surface of the coarse

grained portions, and

is

uncommonly

when

brilliant.

the light

When

is

strong, the

the vein

B6

is

phenomenon
a pale blue,

M a certain distance from the eye, Cc and Dd are of the same

colour,

Ee

is

FGgfis
towards Lk. By

greenish, Ffis yellowish,

the red colour

is

more

intense

pale red, and

a gentle

mo-

Dr. Brewster on the Affections of Light

198

tion of the agate the colours of these portions instantly change,

a particular colour being always produced in the
tions at a particular
I/,

angle of incidence.

The

same por-

veins

Gg

H/i,

and Kk are, however, green when the surrounding portions

are red, and red

from which

when

the surrounding portions are green,

follows that these veins produce a particular

it

colour at a different angle of incidence from the adjacent porIn another specimen of agate, very like the preceding,

tions*

same phenomena are

the

distinctly visible,

and the coloured

image forms the same angle with the common image.

In a

Robert Ferguson, Esq, of Raith,

in the most splendid manner.
A

third specimen, belonging to

the colours are exhibited

semitransparent and irregularly

Jhalf

elliptical

zone, about six and a

inches in circumference and three tenths of an inch broad,

has the first variety of structure, and forms the coloured image

igf* from the common image.

In the specimen represented in Plate V,, fig,

at a distance of

AB; but here the

the common image

are visible only in the vein

coloured image with

first

that of the second image, which

The

greater.

same

the
in

little

small stripe

thinner, exhibits

structure

st at its

vein
that

AB,
it

faint, is

no colours

s8, while

only a

but there

edge where the colours are very

me to

depended on the thickness of the

its

is

little

CD, which to all appearance has

AB, and which differs from it only

This circumstance induced

tinct.

very

angle of the

other vein

structure as

being a

is

the colours

i,

is

dis-

think that the colours

plate, as

well as upon

but upon grinding a hollow place tnvw in the

so as to

make

the agate remarkably thin,

gave the same colours

as before*

ment was made with another piece of

found

similar experi-

agate, and the result

igg

transmitted through crystallized Bodies.

was the same, though the thickness of the plate could not

The

exceed the 400th part of an inch.

rendered more

brilliant

colours indeed were

by the increased transparency of the

agate, but in other respects they experienced no change.

another specimen, of which

it

is

In

unnecessary to give a parti-

cular description, the coloured image formed an angle of about

34 with the colourless pencil, and the different veins produced

the same colour at different angles of incidence.
In attempting to explain these appearances,

at first

ima-

gined that the colours arose from the polarisation of the trans-

mitted rays, and that they were analogous to the colours of

have described

plates of

mica and topaz which

place.

found, however, from several experiments, that the

coloured image
agate; that
light,

is

is

it

and that

it

in

another

equally distinct in every position of the

alike produced
suffers

a plate of agate or by

by polarised or depolarised

no change

either

when examined by

doubly refracting crystal.

The phenomenon which we have

be considered as a new case of the
though we do not pretend to point

described must therefore

production of colour, and

out

its

cause, yet

ously depends upon a particular structure which

is

it

obvi-

possessed

only by some portions of the agate, and admits of such variations as to

produce the same colours at different angles of

incidence.

IV.

On

the depolarisation of Light.

In the fourth book of

Instruments,

my

Treatise on

new

have already shewn that almost

Philosophical

all

transparent

Dr. Brewster on the Affections of Light

oo

two

crystals possess in

positions the singular faculty of

larising light, or of depriving

it

depo-

of the property which

it

quires by transmission through the agate, while in other

ac-

two

positions of the depolarising crystal, the polarity of the light

suffers

Thus

no change.

plate of agate

let

pendicular to the laminse of the agate

continues invisible. This line
effect is

be a

and a prism of Iceland spar when

one of the images has vanished, and

no

ABDC,

or of any other crystallized body interposed

piece of mica

between a

in Plate V., fig, 5, let

GH be

when

parallel or per-

have called the neutral

image

the vanished

here produced upon the polarised light

axis, as

By turning

the mica round, the vanished image will gradually appear*

and when the

line

be restored to

AD

comes

lustre,

its full

into a vertical position,

and

will

it

will

never again vanish what-

The

ever be the position of the Iceland spar.

line

AD

have

therefore called the depolarising axis, as the light in passing

through

it

has been deprived of the polarity communicated

agate, and which prevented

by the

rhomboid of Iceland

By

EF

is

from penetrating the

spar.

continuing the motion of the mica,

also a neutral axis,

depolarising axes are

stances,
in

it

horn,

and what

gum

beater's skin,

is

and

common

BC

it

will

be found that

a depolarising axis.

The

to almost all crystallized sub-

very singular,

have discovered them

Arabic, glue, tortoise-shell, caoutchouc, gold

amber, mother of pearl, camphor, spermaceti

melted and cooled, bees' wax melted and cooled, adipocire

melted and cooled, manna,

and cooled, human

cornea of a

fish,

oil

of mace, acetate of lead melted

hair, bristles of a

sow, human cornea,

cornea of a cow, and imperfectly

pieces of plate glass.

in

some

transmitted through crystallized Bodies.

201

Plates of mica, however, while they possess the properties

of

all

themselves.

the

horizon,

GH

the neutral axis

If

inclined forwards so as to

the

phenomena

depolarising crystals, exhibit

make

peculiar to

of a plate of mica

a considerable angle with

image that was formerly

invisible

accompanied with an oblique depolarising axis Nn.

oblique axis

many

is

also possessed

Mm and Pp

the direction

sidered as oblique neutral axes, but

this

was owing

This

making the same ex-

In

periment with the depolarising axis of the mica,

in

is

by topaz, rock crystal, and

other crystallized bodies.

the image to vanish

will

GH

and therefore the neutral axis

start into existence,

is

observed

which

con-

have since found that

to the polarisation of the pencil

transmission, a property of light which

by oblique

had not then disco-

vered.

We have
effected

hitherto considered the depolarisation of light as

by two separate bodies, one of which

incident rays, while the other deprives

which they have thus acquired

oblique depolarising axes, light

larised

by the same

crystal.

be a plate of topaz having

and

if

a ray

DE

RR' of common

an obliquity that

it is

but in

may

passage from

tion,
It

mdcccxiv.

bodies that possess

all

be polarised and depo-

for

oblique depolarising axis,

its

light

is

ABab, Plate V.,

fig. 7,

incident at R' with such

by being

reflected at

rr will

from

be depolarised in

to r along the oblique axis of depolarisa-

and the emergent ray

makes with the

polarity

if

polarised

follows that the angle

axis

them of the

Thus

the posterior surface ab, then the ray

its

polarises the

rr'

will be depolarised light.

DC6, which

the oblique depolarising

posterior surface ab,

Dd

Hence

is

nearly equal to the

Dr. Brewster on

20^

the Affections of

complement of the angle OCr,

reflection at

On

V.

at

Light

which light

is

by

polarised

C*

the elliptical coloured rings

produced by depolarising

Crystals.

In a former work, to which

refer,

have already had occasion to

have given some account of the colours which accom-

pany the depolarisation of

light,

and

the remarkable fact, that

when

light

is

have particularly noticed

beam of white

depolarised

transmitted through a doubly refracting crystal, the

red rays go to the formation of one image, while the bluish

green rays go

to the formation of the other

peating and extending these experiments,

a

new

image.

In re-

have been led into

of inquiry which has already afforded a series of

field

instructive results deduced

from a

class of

phenomena un-

questionably the most brilliant within the whole range of

optics.

The

plate of topaz

which was used

* Since the preceding section

was written,

in these

experiments,

have performed a very extensive

is

series

of experiments on the depolarisation of light, and have thus been led to a satisfactory
generalisation of the

phenomena.

general principle of polarisation

are supposed to

In

this theory the

are referred to the

form two images polarised in an opposite manner, and either pro-

duced by the same or by different refractive powers

light in every direction, like
layers, each of

phenomena

such bodies as have neutral and depolarising axes

which

is

gum

while those which depolarise

Arabic, caoutchouc, &c. are composed of films or

a doubly polarising crystal, the neutral

and the depolarising

axes of one film not being coincident with the neutral and depolarising axes of the
rest.

In a separate memoir, which

have drawn up

for the consideration of the

Society, 1 have given a full account of this theory, of the experiments

founded,

arid

of the new views to which

ture of organised matter.

it

Royal

on which

it is

leads respecting the formation and struc-

transmitted through crystallized Bodies.

t^^

about

are parallel and highly polished.

its

dispersive

light

by

reflection

58

DE

beam of common

AB

surface

8'.

It is

light

RR

it

1.636;

polarises

is

its

now

depolarising axes.

beam

R, and after reaching the posterior

be partly transmitted

will

If

on the anterior

incident

an angle of about 6o 38', a part of the

at

will penetrate the topaz at

surface ab,

it

is

represented in section by ABab,

being one of
#

which

at

which

faces

power

Its refractive

power 0.024, and the angle

in Plate V*, fig. 8,

two natural

of an inch thick, and has

203

at

in the direction

CF, and partly

reflected in the direction Cr, so as to depart

from the

in

its

point

almost wholly polarised by reflection; but

passage from

of the crystal,

it is

to r along the oblique depolarising axis

depolarised and

tion rr deprived of the polarity

flection at C.

If the observer

direction

through

r'r,

emerges

which

now

it

at

r,

in the direc-

had acquired by re-

looks into the topaz in the

plate of agate

having

its

laminae

perpendicular to the plane of the section AB&a, he will perceive about ten brilliantly coloured elliptical rings, four of

which, with the two central spots, are shewn in Plate VL,
fig. 1.*

The

following measures will convey a correct idea of their

form and magnitude.

Breadth of the central spots including half the black
space between

them

Distance of the outsides of the central spots

Transverse length of each central spot

when the

light

much more

distinct.

Dd

3 42
5 7
7 24

was polarised by oblique

transmission through a plate of mica 0.127th of an inch thick.

this case

Extreme conjugate diameter offirst red ring

* I have counted fourteen of these rings

i5i'

The

colours are in

Br* Brewster on the Affections of Light

so^

Extreme conjugate diameter of second red ring

ll

&

c
'

Ditto

third

Ditto

fourth

14 48
18 30

Ditto

fifth

22 12

Ditto

sixth

Ditto

seventh

25 54
29 36

Ditto

eighth

33 18

Ditto

ninth

Ditto

tenth

37
40 42

Black space between the oval centres

^4*3

In order to convey a correct notion of the different colours

which compose the

parts of the

same

elliptical rings,

ring,

and which vary

have given

in Plate

in different

VIL,

fig. 1,

an

outline of the first six rings with references to the following

which contains the colours

table,

in five different parts of the

semicircumference of each ring.

blue with a purplish tinge

fading into white above, and gradually deepening into black below,
2. White fading into yellow above*
and light blue below.
3. Yellow shading off into white below, and red above.
4. Red, with a pink tinge, and shading into yellow below.

f 1. Light

O
(

|j <(

o
>

Black fading into light blue

5.

"0

13.

Light blue, very

^14, Green,
15.

little.

very broad,

Crimson

fainter than 12,

H4

u
16. Green, very broad,
17. Faint blue.

18. Faint crimson.

to-

*4

wards

M<

6.

Light blue fading into green,

Yellow shading into red.
Deep crimson.

6.
f.

'*-*

\J8*

Blue, very little.

^ f
^ I 10. Green, very little, the green beginning a little below.
<
1
Yellow shading into red,
,
J
i2. Crimson.
9.

O1

19.
20.

Very

faint blue.

Very

faint crimson.

>
u r

q
#

J 21. Still fainter blue.

] 22. Still fainter crimson,

transmitted through crystallized Bodies.

23. Black shading off into light blue.

24.

Dark

green.

f 36. Black mixed with a

I

$7. Ditto.

38. Ditto,

25. Yellow.
26. Deep crimson.

O)

39,

Dark

green, a

little

little

green,

yellow on

its

upper side.
L40. Red, pinkish, not very bright

27. Blue.
28. Green.

305

29. Crimson.

41. Darkish green.

42. Faint crimson.

"g

OlJ
30* Bluish green.
31. Crimson.
t

43- Green.
44. Blue, very little.
45. Faint crimson.

-g
I

3Z.

Very

33,

Very

faint blue.

Green begins

O^

here.
faint pink.

*
34. Still fainter blue.
35. Still fainter crimson.

All the other fringes, without

which grow
^

*T3

q<c

Light blue.

h Yellowish.

ij

yellow.

&

^
#

n Green, blue begins here and runs

downward.

Pink.

Faint blue, green begins here and

runs downward.
q Pink.

>
C

c r

^g

O
&1

J
j

Black.
Faint blue shading into whitish.

Whitish shading into faint brown.

u Faint reddish brown.
t

Greenish yellow.
Pink.

JrlOJv.

k Light blue,
I Yellowish green.
Faint pink.

into light blue.

yellow.

% Pale blue shading into greenish

<3*

Dark blue shading

y Dark pink, with a brown tinge.

u

'/ Very dark blue.

x Brownish
!1

of blue and pink,

from the centre,

*~*

47. Faint crimson.

this, consist

fainter as they recede

a Black.
6 Dark blue approaching to black.
Light blue shading to black.
d Wnitish.
J
[_e Reddish brown of an orange cast.

46. Faint blue.

/\

-0
j

(5

u
I

O
>

o>

V
c
J'

Blue, not much.

Green,
Pink.

fe'Gneen.
/'
blue,
Li
f Light

g-'

Faint pink.

*
I

j&'

O
,

t-H

>

i'

Faint blue.
Faint pink*

Dr. Brewster on

o6

If the plate of agate

is

the Affections

now

of Light

turned round go 9 so that

Its

laminae are parallel to the plane of the section ABab, a second

set

of

rings will be seen as represented in Plate

elliptical

which

VI., fig. 2,

is

on the same

scale as fig.

This new

set of rings

is

are complementary to those in the

diameters of the red rings

in

and which

and the central

contains only the four first orders of colours,

spots.

i,

composed of colours which

first set.

the second

By measuring

set, it will

the

be found

that they correspond with those of the green rings in the first
set; the blue rings

correspond with the yellow; the green with

the red; and the yellow with the blue ; and in the outer rings

the blue with the pink, and the pink with the blue.
spots in the second set exhibit the

merly

black

we employ

crystal, the first set of rings will, in

its

in the first

image

axis, the first set will

second set the

first

agate

is

is

crystal,

and upon turning the crystal about

occupy the second image, and the

image, an alternation taking place

in

every

This method of view-

some respects superior to that in which the

the nebulous image formed by this mineral

in

used, as

injures, in

a doubly refracting

one position of the

quadrant of the motion of the crystal.

ing the rings

at

white.

If instead of a plate of agate

be seen

and placed

and the space around them which was for-

now

is

central

same opposition of colours

to those in the first set; but they are smaller,

greater distance

The

some degree, the

distinctness of the

image

but on

the other hand, the doubly refracting crystal requires to be cut

into a prism with a large angle, in order to separate the

images which
rings,

it

forms, and therefore

it

alters the

two

shape of the

and produces a complete change upon their colours.*

* Since this paper was written, I have discovered a

new property of

light in virtue

transmitted through crystallized Bodies.

$07

emergent rays rr*, instead of being transmitted through

If the

agate or Iceland spar, are reflected at the polarising angle

from any transparent body having

rallel to the

plane of the section ABab, they will exhibit the

of rings

first set

reflecting surface pa-

its

but

if

the reflecting surface

is

perpendicular

to the plane of the section, the second set of rings will be visible.

When thejirst set, thus seen by reflection, is examined through

a prism of Iceland spar,

it

no change

suffers

either in the first

or second image.
In these experiments thejirst set of rings
tinct, as

flected

the polarising crystal extinguishes the light

from the

of rings

extremely dis-

is

is

first

very

surface of the topaz

faint, as

the light

RS

is

RS

re-

but the second

set

not extinguished by

the polarising body.

When we

examine the transmitted light CF, either with

the naked eye or with polarising crystals, no coloured fringes

are visible.

Such are the modifications which common

in its

passage through topaz.

The

light

undergoes

affections of polarised light 9

which now come under consideration, are still more varied and
interesting. In my first experiments on this subject, I polarised the light

by transmitting

afterwards found

it

it

through the agate; but

most convenient to communicate

this

pro-

perty by reflection from the surface of a transparent body.

Let RR', Plate V.,

tained by reflection
of which
in

all

my

it is

polarised

fig. 9,

be a beam of polarised light ob-

from any transparent body

plane

by oblique transmission through transparent bodies. Hence*

experiments on the coloured rings,

polarise the light

GH, the

by bundles of glass

plates,

formerly employed agate or calcareous spar.

i find it

of incalculable advantage to

and to use them

in every case

where I

Dr. Brewster on

so8

of reflection from

reflected at
in

Light

being perpendicular to the plane of

from the topaz AB.

reflection

GH

the Affections of

in the direction

O,

beam

part of this

and part of

will

transmitted at

it

the direction CF, no light being reflected from the

AB. The rays transmitted

surface

at

be

first

having been polarised

before their incidence at R' are depolarised in passing from

R' to

along the oblique depolarising axis, and the rays re-

flected at

are polarised by reflection from the surface ab,

and again depolarised

passage from

in their

to r

along the

other oblique depolarising axis.

If the observer

now looks

set of elliptical coloured rings, as re-

he will perceive the first

presented in Plate VI.,
distinct

and

drew up the

brilliant,

set

its

fig. 1.

and

it

These rings are now

rr'

be

now

peculiarly

was therefore from them

table of colours referred to

Let the ray

ing

into the topaz in the direction rr, 9

from Plate

that I

VII., fig.

i.

received upon a plate of agate hav-

laminae perpendicular to the section ABab, and a third

of rings will be seen

like

from the

third set differs

those in Plate VI.,

first set

only

in

fig. 3.

This

the central parts.

All the rings have the same colours in both, but the central
spots are

much

smaller in the third set than

in the first,

and

the mass of darkness with which they are surrounded en-

croaches considerably upon the blue part of the

first ring.

In the third set of rings the distance of the outsides

of the two central spots

""3

is

Conjugate diameter of each spot

The

of the black space between the.

Ditto
spots

3f

third set, indeed,

may be

considered as the exact coun-

terpart of the second set, all the colours of the

former being

$op

transmitted through crystallized Bodies.

complementary to those of the

latter,

and the central

spots^

having the same form and magnitude.

of agate

If the plate

now turned

is

round, so that

are parallel to the section ABab, a fourth

This

seen.
is

new

by no means

rest

by

brilliant,

is

but

it is

In

set,

distinguished
its

laminae

of rings will be

represented in Plate

is

striking peculiarities.

sembles the first

there

which

set,

set

its

VL,

from

fig 4,

the

all

general structure

re-

it

but in the middle of each central spot

composed of blue and

a darker spot

green above the blue, and every ring

is

red, with a

little

two rings,

divided into

each of which has the same colours as the original ring. This

only a part of the semicircum-

division of the rings occupies

ference of each, and

When

is

not seen beyond the third ring.

move from

the agate begins to

the position which

gives the third set of rings, into that which gives the fourth

two blue

set,

spots and the divisions of the rings begin to appear

at a, a, a, a, a',

lines abc, a'b'c

a\

till

a',

f
,

move along
when
c' c\ c

Plate VIL, fig. 2, and

they arrive at

c, c, c % c, c

rings assume the appearance of the fourth

set.

the
the

If the agate per-

forms another revolution of 90 from the position which gives

the fourth set into that which gives the third set, the blue spots,

and the
c',

d\

divisions of the rings

till

move

off in the direction

c,

the rings assume the appearance of the third

The phenomena which have now been

described

d,

<?,

set.

may

also

be perceived, when the polarisation of the rays rf is effected

either by a doubly refracting crystal or by reflection. In one
position of the doubly refracting crystal the third set of rings
is

seen in the

first

image, and the fourth set

image, and they alternate

the crystal.

mdcccxiv.

When

in

in the

second

every quadrant of the motion of

the ray rf

is

reflected

from

a transparent

Dn

210

Brewster on

the Affections of

body, so that the plane of reflection

from the topaz, thefourth

reflection

we have

Hitherto

parallel to the plane of

is

set

of rings will be

visible.

attended only to the light reflected from

ab y the posterior surface of the topaz

at

Light

exhibits also interesting

but the light transmitted

phenomena.

When

the observer

looks through the topaz in the direction FC, so as to see the

polarising surface

GH, the

They become extremely

second

ABak

the second set

paler than

its

of rings

laminae at right angles to

If the laminae are parallel to the plane

converted into the first

is

faintly visible.

is

however, when viewed

distinct,

through a plate of agate having

the plane

set

when

it

was produced

set

in the

ABab,

with colours a

little

former experiments.

In the preceding experiments the plane of reflection from

GH has been perpendicular to the plane of reflection from the

topaz. We shall now describe the phenomena which take
place

when

these planes are parallel to each other, an ar-

rangement which

When
he

is

represented in Plate V.,

fig, 10.

the observer looks into the topaz in the direction rr\

will perceive the second set of fringes.

If the rays

transmitted through a plate of agate having

its

pendicular to the plane of reflection, the fourth

will be seen, but they are

peared

in

rf are

laminae perset

of fringes

very much fainter than they ap-

the former experiments.

When

the laminae of

the agate are parallel to the plane of reflection, the second set
is

faintly visible.

The

central spots are, however, rather

larger than before, so that this set has the appearance of

being the reverse of the first rather than of the third

When

the light transmitted in the direction

the naked eye,

it

exhibits thefirst set of rings.

through a plate of agate having

its

CF is

If it is

set.

seen by

examined

veins perpendicular to the

transmitted through crystallized Bodies*

plane of reflection, the first

agate

is

set is still visible;

turned round 90 the second

set is

All the preceding observations were

but

%\\

when

the

perceived.

made with a

plate of

When the plate has a greater

topaz T-^ro f an * nc ^ thick.
thickness the rings are much smaller, and when it has a less
thickness the rings are extremely large, so that in very thin

only a small portion of a ring can be perceived at once.

plates,

We

have already seen that with a plate 4&o f an nc ^ 1

thick, the fourth red ring subtends an angle of 18 30'. With
*

another plate -J~ of an inch thick, the angle subtended by

the

same ring

is

8 24/.

TOOO
it

But since
10 3

TOOO

'

2/k>

follows that the conjugate diameters of the rings are inversely

as the thickness of the plates.

According

to the

Abb6 Hauy,

the primitive faces of the topaz

is

the angle formed by two of

22'; and therefore the

124,

axes or longest diagonals of the primitive rectangular prism

will

form angles of 6o 31' 15"* with a

line perpendicular to

the laminae, a result which agrees so nearly with 6o 38', the

inclination of the axes

no

of the coloured rings, that

we

can have

hesitation in concluding that the axes of the coloured rings,

are coincident with the longest diagonals of the primitive rectan-

gular prism.

The
topaz,

rings which have

have discovered

now been

described as produced

by

in rock crystal, mica, the agate, the

oriental ruby , the emerald, native hydrate of magnesia , amber, ice,

sulphate of potash, tartrate of potash

and

acetate of lead, acetate of lead melted

and

* According to

my own

measurements the angle

!l

z6 for the inclination of the diagonals.

x#t

s&

soda, nitrate of potash,

is

cooled, prussiate
123

6 58',

ofpoU

which gives 6o *8'

Dr. Brewster on

si a

the Affections of

Light

human

ash, mother of pearl , hones of a cod, quill, the

nail, horn,

of afish, cornea of a cow, cornea of a man,

spermaceti, Rupert's drops, gum Arabic, and caoutchouc.
tortoise shell, cornea

Rock

1.

The only specimen of this mineral which

when I made the preceding experiments, was in

crystal.

I could obtain

the form of a double convex lens about

thick.

It

f an

nc ^

exhibited only segments of the coloured rings, but

w ere very

they

tMo

large and brilliant, and afforded

me

the

means

of making a very interesting experiment with a plate of agate.

If a

beam of common

light

incident

is

upon the neutral axis

of this crystal, at such an angle that after reflection from

posterior surface,

it

shall

emerge

in the direction of its oblique

by

depolarising axis, the light thus polarised

polarised

reflection

by transmission through the depolarising

reach the eye

in the state

its

of white

light.

If this light

and de-

axis will
is

viewed

through agate, one of the coloured segments, suppose green,

w ill
7

be distinctly

visible; but

if

the agate

is

turned goQ round,

the green colour will be converted into red, and in general the

colour seen in one position of the agate will be complementary to that which
light,

however,

presents

itself.

is

seen in the other position.

is brilliant,

image seen through the agate

green, the nebulous image, in which

green, and

in

the

another very singular phenomenon

If the bright

and when the bright image

When

is

it is

Is

inclosed, will be red;

red, the nebulous

image

will

be

general the colour of the nebulous image will

be always complementary to that of the bright image.

employ a prism of Iceland spar

light, the colour of the ordinary

to

If

we

examine the depolarised

image

is

tary to that of the extraordinary image.

always complemen-

We

may

consider the preceding result as an experimentum

therefore

crucis,

which

^ig

transmitted through crystallized Bodies.

establishes the opinion respecting the structure of the agate,

that has
2.

been given

Mica.

The

in

this paper.

coloured rings are distinctly visible in mica,

both when the light

the plate, and

another part of

when

is

it is

transmitted perpendicularly through

incident in the direction of

The

depolarising axis.

its

oblique

irregular structure of this mineral,

however, and the impossibility of procuring laminae with parallel

and even surfaces prevented

phenomena of
g. Agate.

its

The

me from

investigating the

coloured rings.

only plate of agate in which

the coloured rings,

is

have observed

cut in such a direction that

polarise the bright image.

It

it

does not

possesses, however, the faculty

of depolarisation, and therefore must form two bright images

one of which

lies

immediately above the other.

This plate

is

about T^fo of an inch thick, contains no veins, and exhibits

broad segments of coloured rings.
4.

Oriental ruby.

This doubly refracting crystal affords

beautiful rings, in which,

owing

to the colour of the mineral,

the predominant colours are crimson, light blue, and bluish

green.

The

central spots

the crystal was 1

were

distinctly visible,

and though

of an inch thick, the rings appeared to

be larger than those given by topaz -ro of an inch thick.

5. Emerald. The coloured rings formed by this stone are
principally blue and greenish yellow, the least refrangible rays

being extinguished by the green colour of the mineral.

6.

Native hydrate of magnesia.

distinct

This mineral affords very

segments of coloured rings when the

light

trans-

is

mitted in a direction nearly perpendicular to the surface of the

laminae.

Owing

to the imperfect structure of the plates,

not obtain a measure of the diameter of the rings.

could

21%

Amber. As

7.

and does not

any
of

the Affections of

Light

substance possesses no crystalline form,

this

split into

laminae,

found

satisfactory experiments with

it

The enormous

it.

make

impossible to

breadth

coloured rings was conspicuous in every specimen but

its

though
I

Brewster on

Dr.

ground and polished more than twenty

plates of

it,

could not obtain one which exhibited any thing more than

broad coloured segments.

With

a parallelepiped of

amber

0*566 of an inch long, 0.300 broad, and 0.367 deep, the coloured segments were visible in every direction in which the
light

They appeared most

was transmitted.

the thickness 0.367

were

still

through

and through the thickness 0.566 they

so broad, that

could be seen.

distinct

no more than one colour of each ring

In a piece of

amber

-5 of

an inch thick, the

rings were broader than in a plate of topaz

- of an inch

thick.
8. Ice.

The

out melting

difficulty

it,

of making experiments upon ice with-

the want of a crystalline form, and the im-

practicability of

shaping

it

into parallel plates prevented

from obtaining any accurate

ments, however,

will

results.

throw some

The

light

me

following experi-

upon

this subject.

T~ of an inch thick gave rings much broader

of an inch thick*
than those exhibited by a plate of topaz
The rings were also seen by the reflection of common light
piece of ice

from the

posterior surface of the ice, the light reflected

from

the anterior surface being extinguished by a prism of calca-

reous spar.

|~ of an inch thick exhibited rings larger

than those given by a plate of topaz -3- of an inch thick. The
breadth of one of the fringes shewn by a plate of ice /^
piece of ice

of an inch thick

was nearly 5

26',

which compared with the

transmitted through crystallized Bodies.

results already mentioned, gives

plate of topaz that

would produce

for the thickness of a

| or as

of equal size are as - to

the inverse ratio of

(m

1)

8.95 to

1,

{mf

in ice to

and mf being the indices of refraction.

and m'xs 1.636,

this ratio will

If

at

we

that give rings

which
1 )

w ere
r

is

nearly

in topaz,

take

be nearly as 8.9

experiments the two oval central spots

Light transmitted

same mag-

a fringe of the

Hence the thicknesses of ice and topaz

nitude.

si

m=

1*307

In these

to 1.

distinctly seen.

an angle of 46 through a plate of

same

1,25 inches thick gives rings of the

when

size as

ice

it is

transmitted at an angle of 6o 38' through a plate of topaz

By

3
OOO of an inch thick.

calculating the real thicknesses

in the direction of the transmitted light,

it

will be

found that

the thicknesses at which ice and topaz produce rings of the

same magnitude are

that of

{m

1 )

as 8.4 to i, a ratio not very

in ice to

{m

3
)

remote from

in topaz.

Light transmitted at an incidence of g6 through a plate of

6
of an inch thick gave rings twice as large as those
T
shewn by a plate of topaz -^^ of an inch thick. These thick-

ice

nesses will be found, after reduction, to be as 8.2 to

more remote than any of

to(^'-i) 3

the former from that of

the light

a
)

from the surface of a pool of water did

not appear to depolarise light,

:

a ratio

plate of ice taken

cularly

1,

but

when

when

it

was

the angle of incidence

was depolarised

in

incident perpendi-

was considerable*

every direction, and the coloured

rings appeared even at great obliquities.

g. Sulphate of potash.

plate of sulphate of potash

7^/0

of an inch thick gave fringes of colour, each of which was

in breadth,

while another plate -^g^ of an inch thick gave

i6?

Dr. Brewster on

fringes 3

12' in breadth.

135

the Affections of

Now

=3

168

Light

12'

4 nearly,

so that the diameters of the rings are inversely as the thicknesses of the plates, as in the case of topaz.
incident

gives

on the sulphate of potash

~gg$

inch thick.

at

The

was

light

an angle of 41, which

^J^ of an

for the oblique thickness of the plate

Now

To OO ^ Z >
the size of the ring that would have been produced by a
plate of topaz - of an inch thick, so that the thicknesses
1

OOO

Ok

of sulphate of potash and topaz that produce equal rings are

as 1,85 to 1, which

(m'~ i)
will

B
.

If

we

be as 1,95 to

is

not very far from the ratio of

take

m= 1*509

and

(m

=: 1.636

1)

to

this ratio

1.

10. Tartrate of potash

and soda. The neutral axes of this

salt

are parallel and perpendicular to the axis of the prism, and

it

possesses an oblique depolarising axis along which the coloured

rings are visible.

The

thicknesses of this substance and of

topaz, at which equal rings are produced, are as 31

which

The

is

almost exactly the ratio of

(*

i) 3 to

(tn*

16,

i)V

value of m* in the tartrate being 1.515.

11. Nitrate of potash.

This

salt,

which

is

remarkable for

its

along the axis of the hexaedral

optical properties,* exhibits

prism a series of beautiful miniature rings, twelve of which are

distinctly visible.

an inch

In a plate of the nitrate of potash

^fe of

thick, the fourth ring

subtended an angle of 5 45V

whereas, in a plate of topaz T^~^ of an inch thick, it sub-*
4

tended an angle of 8

25'.

But

* I have' endeavoured to give a full account of these In the Transactions of the

Royal Society of Edinburgh, Vol,

VIL

Part IL

transmitted through crystallized Bodies.

the thickness of topaz that

%i7

would give the fourth ring a

dia-

meter of 5 45'. Hence the thicknesses at which the nitrate

of potash and topaz produce rings of equal magnitude are as
-Tuso to T^oo> or as

(m

to vary as

1
3
,

to 3*97 near ty*

But assuming the rings

those formed by the nitrate should have

been larger than those exhibited by the topaz

6g6

51

or nearly 1.88 to

nitrate of potash are 1,88

should be

if their

a temperature not

When it

is

it

x 3.97, or 7.5 times smaller than they

(m

much greater than

that

When

at

which bees* wax

takes a long time to cool and crystallize.

into a thin film

between two

the crystals shoot from different centres, and exhibit

colours.

1) .*

This doubly refracting crystal melts

formed by heat

larised light the

of

Hence the rings formed by

1.

conjugate diameters had varied as

12. Acetate of lead.

requires, and

in the ratio

most

plates,

by po-

beautiful alternations of the prismatic

the eye

is

kept

at

a distance from the plate,

the colours radiate like the spicula of the

every inclination of the

salt,

and vary

at

plate.

The coloured rings are extremely brilliant in this substance when the polarised light is transmitted
almost perpendicularly but they do not appear when it peneMother of pearl.

1 3.

trates

by an oblique

The

path.

other substances, which have already been mentioned

as affording coloured rings by polarised light, exhibit only

imperfect segments of the fringes, but in

The

all

of

them these

thickness of the plates of ice, sulphate of potash, and nitrate of potash, and

the inclination of the incident pencil were measured in the rudest manner, as

my

object was merely to ascertain in general if there was any connection between the

magnitude of the coloured rings and the

refractive

them.

MDCCCXIV.

power of the body which produced

Br. Brewster on

si 8

segments are

distinctly visible,

the colours are extremely

It is

excepting

in

&c.

caoutchouc, where

faint.

highly probable that the coloured rings will be found

in a still greater

for

the Affections of Light,

them

number of crystallized

in vain in the

bodies.

have sought

diamond, native orpiment, Iceland spar,

fluor spar, muriate of soda, carbonate of lead, carbonate of

barytes, the sclerotic coat of the eye, the crystalline lens, and

a great variety of other bodies, and in some of these with

so

much

notice, if

care,

that they could scarcely

they did

exist.

It

therefore

still

termined, what kind of crystallization

is

have escaped

my

remains to be denecessary to their

production, and what relation exists between the magnitude

of the rings and the refractive

power of the body which pro-

some of the experiments already described,

3
the diameters of the rings seem to vary as (m
but the
1 )
anomalies exhibited by amber and nitrate of potash completely
duces them.

In

prove that

this

is

not the law by which their magnitude

is

regulated.
I

have the honour to

be,

jL/ear oir,

your most obedient humble servant,

DAVID BREWSTER.
To

Sir

Humphry Davy,

LL.D., &c. &c.

JMZ0s.TnmsMBeJCeZW.JPZaU YI.p.&W.

O&aJt/i^y/JKy

Tkilej'. Tmns. MDCCCXCV".

BCD

/7

EF

FlateY.p. 2/$

G-HI

J>\

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B.

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ffiZos. Tnms. MDCCCXIF. -Plate, YEL.p.aM.

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