i30 Professor Famday [May 25, 



then can any number of particles, or any action of such particles 

 carry a fraction of the force associated with each particle ? It is 

 no doubt true, that if two charged particles can throw their power 

 either on to one, or to three or more other particles, then all the 

 difficulty disappears. Conduction proper can do this : but, as we 

 cannot conceive of a particle half decomposed, so I cannot see how 

 this can be performed by electrolytic conduction, i.e. how the 

 particle between r and s can be excited to the intermediate and 

 indefinite degree, conduction without electrolysis being denied both 

 to it and tlie particles around it. 



If the particles between e and n be supposed to conduct electro- 

 lytically by the current which passes through them (dismissing for a 

 time, amongst other serious objections, that already given that the 

 products would not be found at the places to which the electricity 

 has been conveyed) still the present argument would have like 

 force. At r enough electricity may have passed through to decora- 

 pose two particles of water, at s only enough to decompose one, — 

 how is a particle between r and s to change elements with the par- 

 ticles either towards r or towards 5, if electrolytic change only is to 

 be admitted ? or how, as before enquired, can two particles throw 

 their power on to, or receive their power from one ? Many other 

 considerations spring out of the thought of a water bubble, under 

 static induction ; but these just expressed, with those that relate 

 to the seat of electrolytic action, whether at the place of current or 

 of charge, create a sum of difficulty fully sufficient, without any 

 others, to make me suspend for the present any conclusions on the 

 matter in question. 



The conduction power of water may be considered under another 

 point of view; namely, that which has relation to the absolute 

 charge that can be given to the fluid. A point from the electrical 

 machine can charge neighbouring particles of air, and they issue 

 off in streams. It can do the same to particles of camphine, or oil 

 of turpentine ; — it can do the same to the particles of water ; and if 

 two fine metallic wires connected with RuhmkodTs apparatus, 

 be immersed in distilled water, about half an inch apart, the motes 

 usually present will soon show how the water receives charge, and 

 how the charged water passes off in streams, which discharge to each 

 other in the mass. Now such charge is not connected with electro- 

 lysis ; the condition of electrolyzation is that the electricity pass 

 through the water and do not stop short in it. The mere charge of 

 the water gives us no idea where any constituents set loose by electro- 

 lysis can be evolved, and yet conduction is largely concerned in the 

 act of charging. A shower of rain falls across a space in the atmo- 

 sphere subject to electric action, and each drop becomes charged ; 

 spray may be thrown forth from an electrified fountain very highly 

 charged ; — conduction has been eminently active in both cases, but 

 I find it very difficult to conceive how that conduction can be 

 electrolytic in its character. 



