French National lnj!>tut? % 



above all, that we arc indebted for this new difcovery. His 

 opinion, that gaivanifm was only an application of electricity 

 to the animal ceconomy, having been confirmed by feveral 

 men of feience, he endeavoured to find out the means of 

 increafing its effects fo for as to render the real nature of 

 them evident to every body ; and he found that, by multi- 

 plying the pairs of metals, difpofing them always alternately, 

 and keeping them moill — attractions, repulfions, and com- 

 motions, perfectly fimilar to thofe occasioned by the Leyden 

 ilafk, are produced ; and that, in general, a pile, formed of 

 filver,zinc, and moiftened pafteboard alternately, immediately 

 maniefts all the appearances of vitreous electricity at the 

 extremity where the filver is, and of the refmous at that 

 where the zinc is placed. There is, however, this difference, 

 that a Leyden flafk, once difcharged, exhibits no more effects 

 unlefs it has been again charged ; whereas Volta's pile con- 

 ftantly charges itfelf lb that its effects are inceffantly renewed; 

 and it is only by difcharging it with very large conductors 

 that it can be diminimed for a moment. 



Befides, the Leyden jar will always difcharge itfelf by the 

 means of water. If there be the lead: moifture in continuity 

 between its two furfaces, its effects are annihilated ; but with 

 however much water the pafteboard -pieces of Volta's pile may 

 be impregnated, its effects lofe none of their intensity : they 

 do not ceafe till the pile is entirely immerfed in water. 



Thefe differences ought to excite fome doubts rel'pecting the 

 perfect identity of gaivanifm with electricity; and other phe- 

 nomena, ft ill more extraordinary, inereafe thefe doubts. If 

 the ends of two metallic wires be immerfed in water, one of 

 which communicates with the refmous or negative extremity 

 of the pile, and the other with the vitreous or pofnive; and 

 if they be kept at a little diftance from each other, there are 

 difengaged from the extremity of the former bubbles of hy- 

 drogen gas, and from that of the other oxygen gas, which 

 becomes fixed in the metal when the latter is oxidable, or, if 

 it be not fo, rifes in bubbles ; and this action continues as 

 long as the apparatus remains in this ftate. But it is not in 

 this that the great Angularity of the phacnomena confifts, and 

 it is here that gaivanifm begins to enter the province of che- 

 miftry. 



It would have been very natural to confider this gas as the 

 product of the decompofition of water, if a particular circum- 

 itance had not excited doubts in regard to this explanation. 

 That the difengagement may take place, the ends of the wires 

 muft be at a certain diflance; if they touch, no bubbles arc 

 feen. How comes it that the oxygen and hydrogen, arifing 



from 



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