0.7 some Chemical Agenc'm of Eleclncitij. 1 1 1 



mined ; it consisted oF potash and lime, and as yet no stron- 

 tites had been carried into it : for the precipitate it gave with 

 sulphuric acid readily dissolved in muriatic acid. In half 

 an hour strontites, however, appeared ; and in four hours it 

 formed a very abundant ingredient of the solution. 



A piece of muscular flesh of beef, of about three inches 

 in length and half an inch in thickness, was treated in the 

 same way as the medium of communication between muriate 

 of barvtcs and distilled water. The first products were soda, 

 ammonia, and lime; and after an hour and a quarter, the 

 barytes was very evident. There was much free oxymuri- 

 atic acid in the positively electrified tube, but no particle 

 of muriatic acid had passed into the negative tube, either 

 from the nmriatic solution or from the muscular fibre. 



VL Some general Ohservations on these FhcBuomena, and 

 on the Mode of Decomposition and Transition. 



It will be a general expression of the facts that have been 

 detailed, relating to the changes and transitions by electri- 

 city, in common philosophical language, to say that hydro- 

 gen, the alkaline substance?, the metals, and' certain me- 

 tallic oxides, are attracted by negatively electrified metallic 

 surfaces, and repelled bv positively electrified metallic sur- 

 faces ; and contrariwise, that oxygen and acid substances are 

 attracted by positively electrified metallic surfaces, and re- 

 pelled by negatively electrified metallic surfaces; and these 

 attractive and repulsive forces are sufiicienlly energetic to 

 destroy or suspend the usual operation of elective affinity. 



It is very natural to suppose that the repellent and attrac- 

 tive encro-ies are communicated from one particle to another 

 particle of the same kind, so as to establish a conduct- 

 ing chain in the fluid ; and that the locomotion takes place 

 in consequence ; and that this is rc;illy the catjc seems to be 

 sliown bv many facts. Thus, in the instances in which 

 I examined alkaline solutions through which acids had been 

 transmitted, I always found acid in them whenever any acid 

 matter remained at the original sour- e. In time, by the 

 attractive power of the positive surface, the decomposition 

 and transfci undoubtedly become complete; but this does 

 not affect the conclusion. 



Ill 



