1891.] 31 [Bache. 



sting from the current, finally emerging with condensed force at 

 the pole resting on the submerged hand. In a pipe with a prop- 

 erly calculated non-conducting section, the lines of force would 

 play freely inside of the pipe, occupying and limiting there a 

 rounding imaginary space, varying in figure with every change 

 of force, but always, of course, having its apices at the poles, 

 approaching w r hich, and especially at which, would be concen- 

 trated their intensest energy. 



If the full significance and legitimate outcome in conclusion 

 from the experiments that have been detailed have been per- 

 ceived, it will have been realized that, although water acts like 

 wire with reference to conductivity, through length, cross-sec- 

 tional area, and temperature — exemplifying the law of conduc- 

 tion by and resistance to the electric current, with reference to 

 volume, however disposed — the difference between wire and 

 water, notwithstanding that metal has great conductivity and 

 water very little, is enormous with reference to difference of 

 Capacity. We have but to determine, first of all, wdiat electro- 

 motive force is needed for the purpose of destroying germs in 

 water, assuming that the} 7 are thus destructible, and then, upon 

 that basis, determine what the length and cross-section of non- 

 conducting pipe should be to accumulate and discharge the force 

 required. One could charge a constant stream of water in an 

 insulated pipe as never wire nor any congeries of wires nor any 

 metallic deposit on earth could be charged with electricity ; for 

 whereas all these would soon reach their utmost capacity for 

 localized energy, an insulated flowing pipe has back of it all earth 

 ready to receive and effectively return the force transmitted. 

 "We, however, need for our purpose at most only a small area of 

 that vast space. But yet it is true, and a striking exemplifica- 

 tion of the stated fact that, given a dynamo of far less than in- 

 finite power, with poles astride an estuary's living stream, so 

 wide, so deep, that the earth there would not fuse before a fiery 

 blast engendered by resistance, and connected as those waters 

 are with every drop in every brook, the encircling oceans, and 

 the interlying land, it would send its impulse thence over the 

 whole uninsulated globe, and backward, in myriad lines of force, 

 with all but synchronous and omnipresent thrill. 



I stated at the beginning of my discourse that it is an open 

 question whether or not the stomach is capable of destroying 



