On two new Classes of Galvanic Covduciors. 301 

 isolated, the electrometers of the two poles diverge nearly as 

 if the two polar wires were perfectly isolated ; and it is only 

 after a certain time that the electrometer of the negative pole 

 offers a divergence a little stronger than that of the positive: 

 but as to the rest, every thing seems to bespeak an absolute 

 isolation; for, on putting any one of the poles in com- 

 munication with the ground, its electrometer loses all its di- 

 vergency, and that of the opposite pole arrives at the maxi- 

 mum ; and if we touch simultaneously the two poles, we 

 recc.'-e a shock as strong as if the two poles were isolated by 

 a body of air. 



It would seem that hitherto this experiment alone has 

 been adduced, as proving that flame isolates all the Galvanic 

 effects; but we shall see, by the following facts, that this 

 isolation is only partial, and thai, as to the positive pole, flame 

 continues to be an excellent conductor. 



Every thing remaining as in the preceding experiment, 

 we do away the isolation of the flame by introducing into 

 it a metalljc rod. Instantly all the divergence passes to 

 the negative pole, and the positive is absolutely discharged. 

 If we have previously given to the negative electrometer the 

 strongest possible degree of divergence by touching the op- 

 posite pole, the application of a good conductor to the flame 

 will never take away the least particle of this nec-.itive di- 

 vergency, while this same application destroys in an instant 

 every vestige of divergence given anteriorly to the positive 

 pole, and carries it to the negative side iu the strongest pos- 

 sible degree. 



Flame, therefore, belongs entirely to the positive pole, be- 

 cause it is impossible to act upon the negative side by its 

 means, and all the electro-metrical indications announce 

 that the Galvanic circle is not closed by its interposition. 



While it is an excellent conductor for each pole of the 

 pile in particular, it isolates completely the negative side iu 

 the conflict of the two poles, without ceasing to be cmi- 

 ucntly conduclory of the positive eflcct. 



§11. 



