Pharaohs Snake

We describe one class of existing things as substance, and this me subdivide into three (1) matter which in itself is not an individual thing (2) shape or form, in virtue of which individuality is directly attributed, and (3) the compound of the two. Matter is potentiality, while form is realization or actuality. 

Friedrich Wohler (1800-1882) invented the trick known as Pharaoh s Snake, which became vei y popular at fairs  

It consists of a cone uj pressed gray-white powder, which is ignited on afire-resistant surface. Bluish flames, out of which arose a fantastically shaped monster of a brownish-yellow color that was well suited to test one s memories of the Biblical story according to which Moses and his companions cast rods in front of the Pharaoh and transformed them into snakes. .. 

This description of the experiment was provided by the dyestuffs chemist O. N. Witt.  

The light grey powder was Hg(SCN)i, which is highly toxic. We have thus devised a less dangerous form of the experiment w ithotit loosing the beauty of the effect. 

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According to Weingart and Lancaster it is important to obtain a good pitch as the raw material e.g. the residue from the distillation of p-naphthol, but the author does not find it easy to get this material at present. In Japan ordinary coal pitch is used but it has a defect for it produces much soot and smoke. There is another kind of snake named Pharaoh s Serpent. The composition contains a mercury compound and may be poisonous. 

This German device produces an immense long black snake, otherwise quite similar to the Pharaohs Serpents but in no ways related chemically. 

Pharaoh s Snake at the top before lighting, below afiei ligluing. 

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