Galvanic Socteiy of Paris. ST 



emptying ihe water from the tube into a ghss previously 

 v/ell washed with distilled water, we were instantly struck 

 v/ith a verv decided stiiell of oxytnuriatic acid. The tul)e 

 when emptied had the same smell, and water when poured 

 into the glass acquired it also in a very marked manner. 

 This waier had no bad taste, but it reddened turnsole tinc- 

 ture very sensibly, Some drops of a solution of nitrate of 

 silver immediately produced a very perceptible cloud, fol- 

 lowed by a precipitate verv distinctly formed of muriate 

 of silver, in the water of the syphon and of the glass j it did 

 not act upon turnsole paper, and prodi'.ced nothing with the 

 solution of nitrate of silver, except a cloud scarcely percep- 

 tible, but without forming any precipitate. The water of 

 the glass assumicd alone, after resting some hours, a slight 

 rose-coloured hue. 



The Society thought themselves bcvand to abstain from 

 drawing any conclusion from the result of this first experi- 

 ment, but they felt how important it was to confirm iheni 

 by new expcrin)ents. A great number have been conse- 

 quently since made in the same manner, but with piles 

 composed of a more or less considerable number of pairs of 

 disks, of a more or less energetic action, and continued for 

 a longer and shorter period. In all these experiments the 

 water of the tube always manifested the same clouds, and 

 the same distinct precipitate of muriate of silver, with the 

 solution of nitrate of silver. In some of the experiment*, 

 the tincture of turnsole was not changed into red ; and in 

 one only, where the activity of the pile had been kept up 

 about 100 hours, the smell of oxymuriatic acid was mucU 

 more remarkable, also much more ptmgcnt than in the first 

 experiments. In one of those experiments, the water of the 

 glass into which the strip of tin foil was inserted, presented 

 something like an alkaline trace. And on pouring a portion 

 into a tincture of turnsole, which had been reddened by the 

 water of the tube, it restored the colour of it. 



Alihouch the Society had constantly obtained many simi- 

 lar and decisive results, yet they did not think right lo dis- 

 continue their labours. 'I'hey proceeded with tbcir cxpcri- 

 mcnl?, even adding new precautions, in order to remove the 



water 



