%j6 - Experiments with the Galvanic Apparatus. 



Two Giver wires, one from the zinc end of the apparatus, and the other from the filvcr 

 end, were made to communicate with two glafles, diftant from each other about five 

 inches, and filled with water that had been long boiled, and was yet warm. Into one of 

 thefe glafles I dipped the fingers of my right hand, and into the other the fingers of my 

 left, fo that the communication, between them was made through my body. Immediately 

 after the fhock, the zinc wire* began to calcine very fall, white clouds diffufing them- 

 felves from it through the water. At the fame time gas was formed round, and extri- 

 cated from the filver wire in the other glafs. The communication was kept up for half an 

 hour; during this time no gas was produced from the zinc wire, which continued to cal- 

 cine throughout the procefs. The gas from the filver wire was caught in a fmall inverted 

 cylinder; examined by the tefl: of nitrous gas, it appeared to contain no oxygen, and in- 

 flamed with twice its bulk of common air, gave fuch a diminution, as denoted it to be 

 hydrogen nearly pure. 



This apparatus being adjufled as before, the communication between the glafles was 

 made through three perfons ; the procefs went on, though lefs rapidly ; the oxygen was 

 fixed as before by the filver in one veflel, whilft the hydrogen was given out in the other. 

 When mufcular fibre, living vegetable fibre, or a moifEened thread not exceeding three 

 feet in length, was employed as the medium of connexion between the glafles, fimilar 

 effedls were produced, though the gas was evolved more flowly than when the living 

 animal was the connedlor. Mufcular fibre appeared to be a better conduftor than vege- 

 table fibre, and vegetable fibre a better condu£lor than the moiftened thread. 



b. Several glafs tubes about -f of an inch in diameter, and four inches long, having each 

 a piece of gold wire inferted into one end hermetically fealed, and the other end open, 

 were provided. Two of thefe tubes were filled with diftlUed water, and Inferted into fe- 

 parate glafles filled with that fluid. The glaflTes were made to communicate by means of 

 frefli mufcular fibre ; the gold wires were conne£led with the machine by means of filver 

 wires ; one with the filver end, the other with the zinc end. Gas was immediately given 

 put from both the gold wires ; but moft rapidly from that connefted with the filver. In 

 four hours and a quarter the procefs finiflied; the water in the tube communicating with 

 the filver being below the gold wire. The gafes were examined ; the quantity from the 

 water communicating with the zinc was equal to 33 grain meafures» that from the water 

 connefted with the filver to'nearly 65 grain meafures. The zinc gas was mingled with 

 80 meafures of nitrous gas, containing -^ nitrogen ; a rapid diminution took place, and 

 when the refiduum was expofed to folution of green muriate of iron f , not quife five mea- 



• To prevent unneceffiiry repetitions, after Mr. Cruickfhank, I have called the wire connefted with the 

 sine end of the apparatus, the zinc -wire, and that connefled with the filver end, the fdver wire. 



-f- Solution of green muriate of iron rapidly abforbs nitrous gas, without effeiling any change In it at 

 common temperatuies, and it is pofleflTed ofnoaftionon gafes not abforbable by water, and incapable of 

 fupporting flame. Solution of green fulphate of iron likewife abforbs nitrous gas without decompofing it. 

 See Rejearch, Chem, ® Phil, concerning Nitrous Oxide, page 179. Jobnfon. 



