ON THE GALVANIC PHENOMENA. 139 



After having well afcertained the degree of electricity which The intenfity of 

 1 obtain from one lingle pair of thefe metallic pieces, as fliewn coup | es j, tn e 

 by the condenfer which I employ, I proceed to fhew, that fame multiple 

 with two, three, four pairs, &c. properly arranged, that is to ° Q * J e ° A^f $ * 

 fay, difpofed all in the fame direction, and communicating the 

 one with the other, by as many humid llrata (which are ne- 

 ceflary, in order that there may be no contrary actions, as I 

 have already fliewn), we have exactly the double, triple, 

 quadruple, &c. fo that if with a fingle pair we fliould be able 

 to electrify the condenfer to that point as to make it indicate, 

 by the electrometer, three degrees, for example, we fliould 

 obtain fix with two, nine with three, twelve with four, &c. 

 if not exactly, yet nearly fo. You have feen thefe experi- 

 ments, and have appeared to be very well fatisfied with them, 

 as well as Mr. Pictet, who feemed enchanted with them, and 

 was never tired with feeing them repeated. 



Here then we have already conftrucled a fmall pile, which This is ihe pile j 

 however does not yet afford any indications, by the electro- 

 meter without the aid of the condenfer. In order that it may 

 immediately afford thefe, in order that it may arrive at one 

 whole degree of electric tenfion, which it will fcarcely be 

 poflible to diftinguifh, becaufe it amounts to no more than 

 half a line on the electrometer, it is neceffary that fuch a pile 

 fhould be compofed of about fixty of thefe combinations of 

 copper and zinc, or, which is better, of filver and zinc, on 

 account of the fixtieth of a degree which each combination 

 yields, as I have already remarked. It then alfo affords fhocks and gives fhocks, 

 if we touch its two extremities with wet fingers, and much 

 ftronger fhocks if we teuch them with metals grafped by large 

 furfaces in the hands well moiftened, by which means a much 

 better communication is eftablifhed. 



In this manner we may receive fhocks from an apparatus, Saline liquids, 

 whether in pile or with cups, of 30 and even of 20 pairs, pro- **/**** ofwater, 

 vided the metals be fufficiently clean, and especially if the effect j 

 humid jftrata be moiftened, not with mere pure water, but 

 with a confiderably flrong faline folution. 



Thefe faline liquids, however, do not properly augment the but merely, it k 

 electric force j — not at all ; — they merely facilitate the paflage, *£'****, becaufe 

 and leave a freer courfe for the electric fluid, being much conductors, 

 better conductors than Ample water, as feveral other experi- 

 ments prove. 



In 



