Experiments lulth Vol fa's Galvanic Pile, 219 



twciity grains of a purple infulion of red cabbag^^ and par- 

 tially immerfcd in the fame kind of fluid, the fluid in one 

 liibe fdon became red, and that in the other as foon became 

 green, whilft the colour of the fluid into which the tubed 

 Were imriierfed fuftained no perceptible change. 



6th. When the galvanic column was placed unclei* an ex- 

 hauftcd receiver, its power of giving fliocks was almbfl en« 

 tirely fufpended 3 but it detached from water alfo iii the re- 

 beiver both oxygen and hydrogen with a degree of vivacity 

 remarkably greater than that which it exhibited when the 

 whole was placed in the open air. 



7th. When th^ column was placed without the receiver, 

 and the water on which it a6lcd was placed within, the evo- 

 lution of gas was feemingly the fame as it was when both 

 ^ere within the receiver ; and in either cafe the evolution of 

 gas was accelerated and retarded in a fl:riking degree by dimi-a 

 nifliing and increafing the atmofpherical preflure. 



8th. When a com triurii cation was made betweerl the ex^ 

 trerriities of a powerful galvanic column containing 800 fquare 

 inches of metal, a found like that of a fmall electrical fpark 

 ivas diftinftly heard, and a flafh was as diftin6lly feen every 

 time a communication wis made, even in the full light of 

 the day. 



9th. When the above coliimri was at the height of its 

 ftrength, its fparks were fecri in the light of the day evert 

 when taken with a piece of charcoal held in the hand, the 

 body forming the reft of the circuit; yet neither extremity 

 of this powerful machine difcovered any tendency to attract 

 or repel the lighteft bodies which were placed in its^ vicinity. 

 Its ihocks were greater than, a man tould well bear. It 

 maintained its power with little diminution for more than a 

 period of eight days, yet it moved not perceptibly a fine linen 

 thread which was attracted by a fmall piece of fealing-wax at 

 the diftance of more than three inches. 



From thefe and other analogous experiments, which were 

 repeated, I think, with fufficient attention, we may draw, 

 I prcfumej the following couclufions : — ift, That no quan- 

 tity of pure water can ever be totally changed into gas by 



E e 2 any 



