160 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



of the circuit, and also with the so-called co- efficient of 

 charge of the wire, which co- efficient is measured by the 

 quantity of electricity necessary to give a unit's charge to a 

 unit's length of wire. This co-efficient of charge varies with 

 every metal, and with it varies the duration of the current's 

 variable state ; the quantity of electricity which the current 

 consumes to establish itself is with the different metals also 

 variable. 1 S A, XX., 4. 



THE ACTION OF ELECTRICITY OX PHOSPHORUS. 



In 1860 Dr. Giessler endeavored to show that electricity 

 of itself can effect the conversion of ordinary phosphorus 

 into amorphous phosphorus. An apparatus recently de- 

 vised by Schwendler shows that the conversion of the phos- 

 phorus is effected even by the inducing action of the cur- 

 rent of electricity. For this purpose the ends of two con- 

 ducting wires are inserted into exhausted spheres in which 

 there is no phosphorus. These spheres are inclosed in 

 others, and the space between (likewise exhausted of air) 

 contains the phosphorus, which is therefore completely shut 

 off from the conducting wires by a screen of glass. On 

 the passage of a current the sides of the spheres become 

 coated with amorphous phosphorus. It may be considered 

 demonstrated that this conversion is effected neither by the 

 light nor by the heat that accompany the current, but ex- 

 clusively by the electricity itself. 



THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VOLTAIC AND FRICTIONAL 



ELECTRICITIES. 



In reference to the difference between electricity develop- 

 ed by friction and that developed in the galvanic battery, it 

 lias long been remarked that the former, or electricity of 

 high tension, as it is called, excels the other in the develop- 

 ment of light by the electric spark, and has a stronger phys- 

 iological effect upon the nerves and muscles, while its chem- 

 ical, thermic, and electro-magnetic effects are much weaker. 

 A further difference between these two sources of electricity 

 consists in. this, that the galvanic current follows the law of 

 Ohm, varying its intensity with the resistance between its 

 poles, while the current from the electric machine, as was 

 shown by Gauss, remains constant, no matter how great the 



