354 Experiments and Remarks on Galvanism. 



at the wire in the other glass, and vice versa with the oxygen ; 

 for, where each appears, there is not the shghtest trace of its 

 former concomitant in the particle of water. 



The visionary hypothesis* of oxygen and hydrogen being 

 the bases of certain gases, the one a principle of aridity and 

 the other the generator of water, in their combinations also 

 with another substance, azot, forming atmospheric air, ni* 

 trous acid, gaseous oxyd, &c. ; with carbon also forming all 

 the substances of the animal and vegetable kingdoms, must 

 now, in concurrence with the hitherto invariable opinions of 

 some of our most learned philosophers, be entirely abandoned. 



From the experiments with the pile, it appears that the 

 difference between vital and inflammable air does not arise 

 from any difference between their ponderable parts, those 

 being in both instances water. A question ari.ses respecting 

 the minus side of the pile. How is it that, by abstracting 

 electricity (which must be the case if the negative side be 

 only deficient in quantity) from the water, that water is 

 changed into an highly elastic aeriform fluid, into oxygen 

 air, which of all airs, according to M. Lavoisier, has the 

 greatest capacity for containing caloric ? Surely the abstrac-* 

 tion of fire, though it should be in the form of electricity, 

 could not change water into so highly an elastic substance aa 

 oxygen air. 



The following conclusions appear to me to result from what 

 I have read and seen respecting the pile of Volta. 



The oxydation or rusting of the metals in the pile does 

 not appear to be the cause, but the consequence, of the m-^ 

 fluence. As the rusting of the metals diminishes and destroys 

 the power of the pile, I conceive the pure alkalies to act by 

 reaching the pure metals. 



Water is not decomposed when forming part of the cir^ 



* The admitted facts in philosophy had been so well canvassed by the 

 adherents of the new and the old systems of chemistry before we com^ 

 menced our work, as to enable us to steer pretty clear of all controversy 

 in conducting it. New facts, however they may operate, demand the at-^ 

 tention of philosophers j and those qonnected with galvanism, in particular, 

 may serve to clear \ip some parts of a theory, which, if not perfect, de- 

 serves, at any rate, a more respectful epithet than that of being a visionary 

 hypothesis, — Edit, 



cuit, 



