Galvanic Society ^ Paris. -tSS 



TOUch more modern, and may have been used long since the 

 mine in which it was found has been worked. Nor is the 

 formation of spar one of the slowest processes of mineral 

 aggregation. 



GALVANIC SOCIETY, PARIS. 



The following account of the proceedings of this society, 

 during the years 1804 and 1805, was read at its sitting on 

 the 6th of February 1 806. 



The pile of Volta has been considered in different points 

 of view, and has experienced several new modifications in 

 its construction. One of the correspondents of the society, 

 M. M^irechaux, has formed a pile of nine disks, composed 

 of zinc and copper, separated by rounds of dry blotting 

 paper. Cords of silk supply the place of the glass tubes in 

 the ordinary apparatus, and hold it suspended to a hook. 

 The pile thus constructed produces very sensible effects. 

 M. Marechaux thought he remarked, by means of this ap- 

 paratus, that the electrical tension of the pile increases and 

 decreases in proportion to the electrical state of the air, and 

 that its action is stronger the more the air is charged with 

 humidity. 



A new apparatus, to which the name of the Galvanic 

 chain has been given, has been invented by M. Struve. 

 This chain is composed of several double cones, one of 

 copper and another of zinc, and so on alternately, soldered 

 together by their bases. To the point of these cones is an- 

 nexexl a hook, which serves to join together a greater or less 

 quantity of these double cones. Linen or cotton is placed 

 between these latter, in such a manner, however, that the 

 extremities are in contact with each of the extremities of 

 zinc and copper. The chain, thus disposed and saturated 

 with muriate of soda, is instantly in a condition to operate. 

 It is, according to the author, less oxidable than the ordinary 

 apparatus, and its activity is triple ; a chain of 15 or 20 of 

 these cones having as much energy as a pile of 50 or 60 

 disks. 



It was very difficult, with the straw electrometer of Volta, 



and even with the electric balance of Coulomb, to appreciate 



M 4 the 



