25S ANALYSIS OF THE GALVANIC PILE. 



ble fluid pro* expansiule fluid, constantly associated with all terrestrial 



duces various l )0 dies, and with the air that surrounds them : thus present 

 phenomena. ... . , . P . . 



in all our chemical processes, during which some ot its in- 

 gredients, either engaged or disengaged, might account 

 really for certain phenomena hitherto explained by mere 

 words. For, according to meteorological observations which 

 1 shall relate in the following paper, it is by its decomposi- 

 tions, alternating with compositions, that the electric fluid 

 operates in terrestrial phenomena. AVhat were chemical 

 theories before the chemical combinations of fire with other 

 substances were discovered and attended to ! However, as 

 long a* this fluid shall be considered under the vague idea 

 expressed by the modern word caloric, it will not much for- 

 ward the science of chemistry. 

 Transmission After these general remarks, T return to my subject, 



or electricity v?htch will serve as an example of their application. When 



through inter- .. » • /» . » t i • 



mpted con- the transmission or the electric fluid through interrupted 



•iuctors. conductors takes place in a liquid, the new phenomena of 



lucidity, heat, and odour, are not perceived ; but there can- 

 not be any doubt, that the chemical effects produced in the 

 circuit, and the shock, proceed from the same decomposition 

 of particles, that takes place at interrupted conductors, 

 which is visible only through the air; for no chemical effect 

 is produced in the water of the glass tubes, when the metal- 

 lic wire passes through it uninterrupted. With respect to 

 the shock, this condition is not immediately perceived in 

 the discharge of the Ley den vial, because it is sudden, at- 

 tended with a strong commotion, and not repeated till the 

 vial'is again charged: but with the pile, which soon renews, 

 spontaneously, the cause of the shock, it has been seen hi 

 Exp. 8, that this phenomenon is produced only at the 

 approaching contact, and thus by an interruption; since all 

 sensation ceased, when I fixed the silver spoons on both ex- 

 tremities. 

 The first ques- These preliminary deductions of facts were necessary for 

 tion answered, the solution of the first of the questions above stated, 

 namely: " Of what nature is the modification produced in 

 " the electric fluid, when it pervades a pile wherein the cal- 

 ** cinalion of some metal is going on ?" a question inti- 

 mately connected with this: " How does it happen, that, 



** with 



