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XiV. Theory of Galvanic Electricity, founded on Expe- 

 rience. By M. I. A. Heidman, Physician in Vienna. 

 Abridged by M. Guvton*. 



Xn the first section of M. Heidman's work we find the 

 history of Galvanic electricity, relatively to the discovery ot" 

 the pile of Volta. The author includes under this head the 

 observatiojis of Galvani upon animal electricity; the expe- 

 riments of Valli ; the memoirs of Volta aoainst the parti- 

 sans of the system of a particular animal electricity; the 

 dissertations of Fontana and of professor Reil ; Du Creve's 

 essay upon the irritability excited in a vacuum ; the inqui- 

 ries of Richard Fowler, of Pfaff, Humboldt, and Riiterj 

 and, finally, he alludes to the experiments which led Volta 

 to the discovery of the electrical pile, to vvhich M. Heidmaa 

 gives the name of Galvanic battery. 



The second section contains the description of this appa- 

 ratus, of the parts which compose it, and of their different 

 dispositions. It is divided into five chapters, subdividiKl 

 into articles, which treat successively of the simple Galvanic 

 chain; of the nature of conductors; of their mass; of their 

 extent; of the properties of solid or liquid conductors ; an<l 

 of the virtue attributed to solid and moistened conductors. 



The author reviews the experiments and opinions of Al- 

 dini, Valli, Carminati, Volta, Vassali-Eandi, Davy, Hum- 

 boldt, Fontana, Crcve, Fowler, Pfaff, Pepvs, Haldane, 

 Kitter, Nicholson, Cavallo, Boekman, Arnim, Gilbert, Rein- 

 hold, Sec. 



It is in the three latter chapters of this section that 

 M. Hcidman presents his doctrine, and supports it bv ap- 

 propriate observations. 



He relates two ex])eriments which he made with the view 

 of determining (he influence of humid bodies in the Galvanic 

 chain. The first consists in placing in contact two homo- 

 geneous metals (pure tin) with the nerves and muscles of a 

 frog, and in establishing the communication of the two 

 metals by means of zinc and silver: there is no contractiou 



• From Ai'^nhs ile Chimir, torn. lii. p 70. 



Vol. 23. No. 1 10. July 1807. G either 



