Outlines of a ViezL' of Galvani/m. 331 



in circles, conneftcd with the maximum and minimum of 

 tl)eir acVivilv, have not been yet aicertained ; and there is 

 e\crv reafon to believe that thcv will be difllTcnt in difl'ereut 

 iuipcrfcol conductors. Thus, ])ortions of I'ulphuric acid and 

 oF nitrous acid will probably term better condu6ling feries 

 than (iniilar portions of water; and a chain of water will 

 pi-rliaps acl better than an ccjual chain of water nnxed with 

 alcohol. 



From feveral experiments, it would appear that the powers 

 of circles are particularly connected with the cxtenfion of the 

 furfaces of contadl between the perfeft and imperfect con- 

 ductors. 



§ 5. All ffalvanic influence in fingle circles is manifefted 

 either by its efficiency in aft'efting living animal organs, 

 forming part of the arrangement; or by its power in niodi- 

 fvinor the chemical chanQ;es produced bv the aftion of the 

 peifciSl on the imperfeft conduftors. 



A. When one fluid part of a powerful (ingle circle is made 

 to touch the tongue at the fame time that another fluid part 

 is connected with feme irritable furface of the body, an acid 

 tafte is perceived*, which becomes lefs diliimSl in propor- 

 tion as the contact is longer preferved. 



If the eve be made pan of the galvanic circuit, a tranfient 

 flalh of light is produced at the moment the chain is com- 

 pleted t ; and, when the bared cutis is emi)loyed, a faint 

 painful fcnfation uniformly denotes the circulation of the 

 galvanic influence]:. 



' But the mod: diflinft mode of exhibiting, by animal ex- 

 citement, the exil'tence of fmall quantities of galvanic power, 

 is by connecling one part ot the circle with a nerve, and an- 

 other part with a mufcle, in a limb ju(l leparated from the 

 body of a living animal. In this cafe, whenever the con- 

 nexion of the arrangement is made or broken, mulcular 

 contractions are produced §. 



B. In galvanic Ample circles all primaiy chemical a6lion 

 takinc: place between the imperfect and perfect conduftors 

 is apparently increafed 1)\ their galvanic arrangement. Thus 

 zinc, which oxidates when in coiuacl with common water 

 alone, oxidates much more rapidly when forminii a galvanic 

 circle with it by means of gold, or other difficultly oxidable 

 metals ||. And tin appears to dTirolve fafter in diluted nilric 

 acid, when compofmg a circle with it by the contadt of gold, 

 than when fmgly immeri'ed in it^. 



'■' Sukcr, \'olta, RobiCon, and other philofophcrs. 

 I Mr. IliintLT. t Humlx>ldt. § Galvani. 



Dr. Aflu € Oriiruial experiment, D. 



C. But 



