Remarks on the Galvanic Battery. 141 



merit is strictly true, yet it does not give us correct views 

 in regard to the battery. We prepared different solutions 

 of s. z. ranging from zero to saturation. These were alter- 

 nately used in the porous cell and q. measured by the gal- 

 vanometer. The time for each experiment was about five 

 minutes. Above the specific gravity of 15° B. q. was 

 sensibly the same up to saturation. These results were so 

 directly contrary to all our experience with the battery in 

 actual use, that at first we were at a loss to understand 

 them. The experiments were accordingly continued, by 

 putting an element on a closed circuit through the galvan- 

 ometer. The quantity of electricity and the specific gra- 

 vity of the s. z. was noted from time to time. So soon as 

 the s. z. approached near saturation, from 43° to 46° B. 

 depending on the temperature, it was found that the 

 element gradually decreased in force untill finally q. was 

 less than one twentieth of its normal value. As the 

 electro-motive force remained constant it indicated an in- 

 ternal resistance more than twenty times as great. But 

 we know by direct experiment that a saturated solution of 

 s. z. is a better conductor than a dilute solution, and hence 

 we ought to expect the resistance to be less. A careful 

 study of the phenomenon led us to conclude that the 

 increased resistance was due to the polarization in the bat- 

 tery itself. When the current is passed through a volta- 

 meter or electrolyte solution, it is found a much greater 

 resistance is introduced, than that due to the liquid alone. 

 This increased resistance is ascribed to polarization of the 

 electrodes in the solution and has been ably discussed by 

 a number of scientists. But the polarization in the battery 

 itself does not appear to have been investigated. After 

 an element has been on a closed circuit for a long time, 

 if the circuit be opened for a few minutes, on closing it, 

 the galvanometer will at first indicate the maximum quan- 

 tity due to the element, but in a few seconds the needle 



