338 Outlines (sf a View of Galvajilfm, 



galvanic phiEnomenaowe their exiftence to cledlricity, excited 

 in the different arrangements, in conl'equence of a change in 

 the ele6lrical capacity of liich of their parts as undergo che- 

 mical aftion ; this atSlioh being alwavs conneftcd with altera- 

 tions in the furflicci* and conducing powers of bodies. 



The circulation of e!e6lricity in galvanic circles, from its 

 different points of excitation, appears to depend, in a great 

 nieafure, upon certain fpecific attractions for it, in the dif- 

 ferent conductors, inexplicable by known laws. 



§ 2. In all cafes of fniiple galvanic a6lion, negative and 

 pofitive elec\ricitv, as refpetfivelv exhibited by their deoxid- 

 ating and oxidating influences, after being once excited, can 

 be multiplied bv a certain alternation of furface. 



Thus, in the circle with zinc, iron, and water, in which, 

 as was dated in page 332, the zinc oxidates, and the iron un- 

 dergoes no change, if a drop of water be placed on an in- 

 fulated furface of the iron, it will rapidly aft upon it, and 

 produce red oxide; whereas, if it be placed upon a finiilar 

 furface t)f the zinc, it will undergo very little change *. 



This fa6t will, perhaps, in fome mcafure, lead to an ex- 

 planation of the caufe of the accumulation of galvanifm in 

 'compound circles. For, in thofe circles, all the feries are fo 

 con(tituted as to produce a perfetl correfpondence between 

 the eleftricitv excited by chemical a£lion, and that produced 

 by compenlation. 



§ 3. The general chemical agency of galvanifm is at pre- 

 fent involved in obfcurity. The facts relating to the feparate 

 produiSfion of oxygen and hvdrogen, acid and alkali, in 

 Water, are totally incommenfurable with the ufually received 

 theory of chemidrv. And, even fuppofing that the appear- 

 ance of the two iafi; of thefe bodies is conneftcd with the 

 prefence of atmofpheric air, it is dill extremely difficult to 

 conceive, that either oxvgen or hydrogen can pafs in an in- 

 vifible form through Huids or organic bodies. Common 

 phylical fafts prefent us with no analogies fufficiently diftinil 

 to enable us to reafon on this fubjeft; and the elucidation of 

 it will probably be connected with perfedly new views of 

 corpufcular aftion. 



§4. The appearance of galvanic aftion in living matter, 

 particularly in the torpedinal organ, leads to curious inqui- 

 ries. Chemical changes are perpetually going on in different 

 parts of the living body, which mud be conne&ed with altera- 

 . tions in their dates of elecSlricity ; and organized beings con- 

 tain all the fubdanccs requifitefor forming fpecies of galvanic 

 arrangements Tbefc circumdances, combined with the fa6ls 



* D. 



of 



