1821,] D7\ Harems neiv Galvanic Apparatus, Theort/, ^c, 333 



of platina nearly a quarter of an inch in diameter, tapering a 

 little at the end, was fused and burned so as to sparkle to a con- 

 siderable distance around, and fall in drops. A ball of brass of 

 about half an inch diameter was seen to burn on its surface with 

 a green flame. Tin foil, or tinsel, rolled up into large coils of 

 about three-quarters of an inch thick, were rapidly destroyed, as 

 was a wire of platina of No. 16. Platina wires in connexion 

 with the poles were brought into contact with sulphuric acid ^ ■ 

 there was an appearance of lively ignition, but strongest on the 

 positive side. Excepting in its power of permeating charcoal, 

 the galvanic fluid seemed to be extricated with as much force 

 as when each coil was in a distinct glass. Apprehending that 

 the partition in the trough did not sufficiently insulate the poles 

 from each other, as they were but a few inches apart, moisture 

 or moistened wood intervening, I had two troughs made, each to 

 hold 40 pairs, and took care that there should be a dry space 

 about four inches broad between them. They were first filled 

 with pure river water, there being no saline nor acid matter to 

 influence the plates, unless the very minute quantity which 

 might have remained on them from former immersions. Yet the 

 sensation produced by them on the backs of my hands was 

 painful, and a lively scintillation took place vv'hen the poles Vv^ere 

 approximated. Dutch gold leaf was not sensibly burned, though 

 water was found decomposible by wires properly affixed. No 

 effect was produced on potash, the heat being inadequate to 

 fuse it. 



A mixture of nitre and sulphuric acid was next added to the 

 water in the troughs, afterwards charcoal from the fire \Vas 

 vividly ignited, and when attached to the positive pole a steel 

 wire was interposed between it and the other pole, the most 

 vivid ignition which I ever saw was induced. 1 should deem it 

 imprudent to repeat the experiment without glasses, as my eyes, 

 though unusually strong, were affected for 48 hours afterwards. 

 If the intensity of the light did not produce an optical deception 

 by its distressing influence upon the organs of vision, the char- 

 coal assumed a pasty consistence, as if in a state approaching 

 to fusion. That charcoal should be thus softened, without being 

 destroyed by the oxygen of the atmosphere, will not appear 

 strange, when the power of galvanism in reversing chemical aflH- 

 nities is remembered ; and were it otherwise, the air could have 

 no access; first, because of the excessive rarefaction, and in the 

 next place, as I suspect, on account of the volatilization of the 

 carbon forming about it a circumambient atmosphere. This 

 last mentioned impression arose from observing that, when the 

 experiment was performed in vacuo, there was a lively scintilla- 

 tion, as if the carbon in an aeriform state acted as a supporter of 

 ^combustion on the metal. 



A wire of platina (No. 16) was fused into a globule on being 

 connected with the positive pole, and brought into contact with 



