Experiments and Remarks on Galvanism. 353 



moved the salt and water, and substituted in its stead an 

 aqueous solution of pure potash in water : a much greater 

 effect was produced in the liquid through which the circuit 

 was made. On the addition of water of pure ammonia, the 

 effect was very strong. 



You will observe that in these experiments I employed the 

 decomposition of water (as it is called), by means of platina 

 wires, as a galvanometer. 



As I found that the water of pure ammonia succeeded so 

 well in the saucers, I built up my pile, interposing pieces of 

 blotting-paper moistened with this alkali : I was astonished 

 at the increase of power; with fifty or sixty pieces of silver it 

 was much too strong to be agreeable. A person above six 

 feet high, and very strong, started several paces on receiving 

 the shock, although he knew he was to receive one ; and this 

 after the pile had been constructed five hours. I mention 

 these facts thus particularly, because I wish to show that the 

 fluid excited in the pile does not arise from the action of acids, 

 or from any combination of oKvgen with the metals. 



The next subject to which I wish to draw your attention 

 is, the effect which this new agent will have on the prevailing 

 theory of chemistry. The advocates for the Lavoisierian hy- 

 pothesis say that it decomposes water. The facts which are . 

 already before the public, completely, in my opinion, unsettle 

 that doctrine. In your last Number, Dr. Moyes mentions 

 that the influence will not continue to decompose the water 

 after it has been acted on to a cejtain point. I have kept 

 my two platina wires in the same small quantity of water for 

 months, and I find that when connected with my pile, the 

 gases are produced as rapidly as when they were first used. 



Indeed, now that I use the v/ater of pure ammonia, they 

 pour forth very large quantities. If a syphon be made to 

 connect two glasses of water, and in each be placed a wire, 

 one connected with the zinc and the other with the silver, 

 the gases are produced. If a particle of water is composed 

 of a particle of oxygen and a particle of hydrogen, what rapid 

 currents must there be of those two substances ! Where the 

 oxygen is produced, the hydrogen nuist first descend to the 

 bottom of the leg of the svphon, pass through it, and appear 

 Vol. IX. * y y aC 



