302 On two new Classes of Galvavic Conductors. 



§ 11. 



Of those Conductors wluch during the Conjlict of the two 



Foles isolate the positive Effect, while tlwij continue to 



propagate negative Electricity. 



A solid prism of soap, completely dried and applied to 

 any of the poles of the Galvanic pile, propagates into the 

 ground all the electricity of this pole, and produces on the 

 opposite side the maximum of electrical tension. There is 

 not, relative to this effect, any difference between its action 

 upon the two poles ; and the soap acts as well as the most 

 perfect conductor can do. 



If we make a metallic wire proceed from each extremity 

 of the pile, and if we plunge the free extremity of each of 

 these two wires into the same prism of soap perfectly iso- 

 lated, we do not perceive any remarkable effect ; i. e. after 

 having brought to the same level of tension the tv/o poles, 

 by applying to them an isolated metallic rod, the electro- 

 meters of the two poles will act as they did before the inter- 

 vention of the soap, and when a body of air isolated them 

 perfectly from each other. 



Eut at the same instant we put the soap in free commu- 

 nication with the ground, the positive electrometer presents 

 the maximum of divergency, and that of the negative side 

 loses every vestige of it, precisely as if wc had placed the 

 negative pole itself in communication with the ground. 

 Consequently, the soap which isolates the positive effect is 

 a conductor perfectly continued for the negative effect to 

 which it belongs in all its extent ; for, if we touch it with a 

 very small point, very near the point where the wire of the 

 positive pole enters, it is entirely impossible to take away 

 thereby any portion of positive electricity, so absolute is the 

 isolation of this pole. 



The flame of phosphorus also conducts the effect of each 

 pole in particular, and in the conflicts of the two effects it 

 belongs exclusively to the negative pole, like soap. 



I have often witnessed the same property in gelatine 

 ^rought to a certain degree o» concentration, as well as in 



ivory i 



