BLUBBER 73 BLUCHER employed as a support; the former when the color of the flame is to be regarded as the characteristic reaction, the latter ■when such effects as the oxidation or re- duction of metallic substances are to be observed. The following metals are reduced from their compounds when heated with car- bonate of soda on charcoal in the inner flame of the blowpipe: viz., nickel, cobalt, iron, molybdenum, tungsten, copper, tin, silver, gold, and platinum. When com- pounds of zinc, lead, bismuth, arsenic, antimony, tellurium, and cadmium are similarly treated, these metals are also formed, but being volatile, pass off in vapor at the high temperature to which they are exposed. The blowpipe has been long used by goldsmiths and jewelers for soldering metals, and by glass blowers in fusing and sealing glass tubes, etc.; it has also been applied in qualitative analysis for many years, but more recently chemists have devoted their attention to its use, and have even employed it with great success in quantitative chemical analysis. The oxyhydrogen blowpipe is an ar- rangement by which a jet of oxygen and hydrogen, in the proportions to form water, is ignited and directed against any object. The most intense heat is produced, most of the metals being volatilized when placed in it, and even the diamond changes into ordinary car- bon, and is burned when exposed to its flame. When a cylinder of quicklime is heated by it, a most dazzling light is pro- duced, rivalling the electric light in bril- liancy, and known as the calcium light. BLUBBER, the fat of whales and other large sea animals, from which train oil is obtained. The blubber lies under the skin and over the muscular flesh. It is eaten by the Eskimos and the sea-coast races of the Japanese Islands, the Ku- riles, etc. The whole quantity yielded by one whale ordinarily amounts to 40 or 50 but sometimes to 80 or more hundred weights. BLUCHER, GEBHARD LEBERECHT VON (bliicher), a distinguished Prus- sian General, born at Rostock, Mecklen- burg-Schwerin, Dec. 16, 1742. He en- tered the Swedish service when 14 years of age and fought against the Prussians, but was taken prisoner in his first cam- paign, and was induced to enter the Prussian service. Discontented at the promotion of another officer over his head, he left the army, devoted himself to agriculture, and acquired an estate. After the death of Frederick II. he be- came a Major in his former rerriment, which he commanded with distinction on the Rhine in 1793 and 1794. After the battle of Kirrweiler in 1794 he was ap- pointed Major-General of the Army of Observation stationed on the lower Rhine. In 1802, in the name of the King of Prussia, he toe... possession of Erfurt and Miihlhausen. Oct, 14, 1806, he fought at the battle of Auerstadt. After the Peace of Tilsit he served in GENERAL VON BLUCHER the Department of War at Konigsberg and Berlin. He then received the chief military command in Pomerania, but at the instigation of Napoleon was after- ward, with several other distinguished men, dismissed from the service. In the campaign of 1812, when the Prussians assisted the French, he took no part; but no sooner did Prussia rise against her oppressors than Bliicher, then 70 years old, engaged in the cause with all his former activity, and was appointed com- mander-in-chief of the Prussians and the Russian corps under General Winzin- gerode. His heroism in the battle of Liitzen, Bautzen and Hanau, Katzbach, and Leipsic, added to his glory. He was now raised to the rank of Field-Marshal, and led the Prussian army which invaded
