Relations of Electricity with bodies in the spheroidal state. 443 



energy in an electro-electric machine with an electro -electric 

 rheotome*. The extremities of the induced circuit abut on 

 platina wires immersed in pure or acidulated water in the 

 spheroidal state. It has undergone no change in its united or 

 radiated form. The same experiments, repeated by means of 

 my commutator (122.), gave similar results, whatever was the 

 velocity with which the inductor current was interrupted f. 



194. I pass to the description of some experiments in which 

 electricity does not intervene, and which appear not to have 

 been before made. They are given here only on account of 

 their connection with the preceding details, and some practical 

 applications of which they will perhaps be susceptible. 



195. Five circumstances at least have an influence on the 

 general phaenomena of the spheroidal state : the nature and 

 the mass of the liquid, the nature and the thickness of the 

 solid which supports it, lastly the degree of heat at which it is 

 kept. 



196. At an equal temperature, pure water spheroidalized 

 and reduced to little drops, skips in a silver spoon with more 

 energy than on a leaf of platina. The syrup of sugar, also in 

 small spheres, rebounds more on the platina than pure water. 



197. It is known that a great mass of water may be brought 

 to the spheroidal state in a thick capsule of platina. When 

 the temperature is very elevated, the star-form is soon pro- 



* This apparatus, constructed by M. Bonijol, demonstrates the influence 

 of the state of closing or opening of the circuit induced on the action of 

 the inductor current ort itself (§ IV.). While the induced circuit is open, 

 the spring of the rheotome makes a sharp sound ; but this sound falls 

 immediately a semitone, a fifth, and even an interval of a twelfth, as soon 

 as the induced circuit augments by its opening the electro-magnetic attrac- 

 tion of the iron cylinders, which occupy the hole of the bobbin on the disc 

 of soft iron fixed above the spring. This variation in the musical sound 

 merits the attention of medical men who employ the machine for shocks. 

 The nervous sensibility may be so much weakened in certain paralytic 

 patients, that they may not perceive distinctly the passage of the instanta- 

 neous induced currents. Before modifying the conditions of the experi- 

 ment, or augmenting the power of the battery (which might in certain 

 cases (143.) entail the most fatal consequences), the practitioner should 

 assure himself of the real closing of the induced circuit. For this purpose he 

 will consult the tone of the sound of the rheotome. If the machine works 

 with a mercurial commutator, he will examine the diminution of the bril- 

 liancy of the sparks at the time of the rupture of the inductor circuit (36.). 



t The want of apparatus sufficiently energetic has hitherto prevented 

 my trying an experiment which would be interesting in many respects. 

 Its object would be to ascertain whether, in the spheroidal state, liquids 

 are subject to the forces which emanate from the poles of a powerful mag- 

 net. The beautiful discoveries of Prof. Pliicker of Bonn, on the axial or 

 equatorial elongations which these forces impress on the primitive forms of 

 equilibrium of the liquids exposed to their action in ordinary circumstances, 

 are well known. — Poggend. Ann. der Physik und Chanie, vol. lxxiii. p. 549, 



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