VOLTAIC BATTERY. 271 



the tendency of all substances exposed to the 

 action of electric force, to assume what is termed 

 a polar condition. It has been shown, by Dr. 

 Faraday, to exist in the molecules of the various 

 substances, which are interposed between the 

 decomposing poles, or electrodes, of a voltaic 

 arrangement. 



The author suggests that it is this polar condi- 

 tion which causes, by the simple law of attraction 

 and repulsion, the elements of any fluid, under 

 decomposition, to progress towards, and ultimately 

 to be deposited upon, or chemically combined with, 

 that pole of the apparatus to which they severally 

 belong, by a law as certain as the force of gravi- 

 tation itself.* 



This quality of electric force does not depend 

 upon the quantity of fluid existing in a circuity 

 for the ordinary electricity manifests it in a much 

 higher degree than does voltaic fluid, although 



* As conduction destroys polarity, this polar condition 

 could have no existence if the battery current were conducted 

 by the electrolyte, as suggested by Dr. Faraday, and upon 

 which basis the whole of his electric nomenclature is founded. 

 (See Experiments 46, 48, and 49.) 



