ELECTRICITY OF SHAVINGS OF WOOD. 



49 



tural ftreams or falls of water would be fubjeft: to interruptions 



from this caufe, with his engine about as foon as with others 



that are more expofed, fo that its advantages would confift of 



the other particulars which he has detailed. But with the en* but in crane- 



gine applied for railing goods, it is to be apprehended that work the water 



the water in the elevated refervoir would be bound up by incapable of 



freezing, and alfo in fevere weather checked if not confined freezing in our 



by the fame caufe in the engine itfelf. The remedy for this c ' ' 



appears to be to work the engine, by raifing the fame mafs 



of fluid repeatedly, and diffolving fome cheap material in it 



which fhould render it lefs difpofed to freeze. Molt faline by a moderate 



bodies would have this effect, and the quantity once added, addition of fome 



11 • i -i n i r t> • ii cheap falme 



would remain long without watte or lots. Experiment would fubftance, 



fhew what fait, and whether earthy, neutral, metallic, alka- 

 line, or acid, might be the cheapeft, moft effectual, and leaft 

 difpofed to act upon the engine % 



IX. 



On the Electricity of the Shavings of Wood* 

 By Mr. W. Wilson. 



SIR, Lond&n, Dec. 13, 1802. 



IOUR readinefs to infert my letter of the 1 1th of Oftober, 

 encourages me to requeft the infertion of the following account 

 of experiments on the electricity obtained by cutting of wood, 

 &c. In doing which you will very much oblige 



your obedient humble fervant, 



WM. WILSOtf. 



HAVING frequent occafions to work very dry wood that Wood {having 

 has lain over a large fire for feveral hours, I have often ob- adl j ere t0 *• 

 ferved the (havings, &c. to adhere to the tools, and whatever 

 they touched. About two years ago I began to take parti- 

 cular notice of, and endeavour to find the caufe of this phe- 



* In the confideration of this engine, the attention of the reader 

 will be directed to the preflure engine of Mr, Trevitbick, in our 

 firft volume. 



Vol. IV. — Januaky, 1803. E nomenon, 



