Klrwanmn Sociclij of DiitUn. 22<'5 



Wltl) all the preceding : he admitted that the agent ip contrac- 

 tions is eiectricitv, not inherent in the animal, but generated by 

 tli<^ contact of two metals, which he found it necessary in most 

 cases to employ. Vassali-Eandi preferred the opinion of Galvani, 

 but added this modification, that the metal employed is not a 

 generator but a conductor of the electricity, which is evolved 

 cluring chemical action continually taking place in animals, and 

 not inherent in them as a principle. Fowler deniedtliat the cir- 

 cunrUances for producing electricity are present, and the phaeno- 

 mena are even reeoncileable to the laws of fluid : he supposes 

 that the influence, whatever may be its nature, is not derived 

 fioni the metals alont^, but partly from the animal. Experi- 

 ments of Sniuch, Marsigli, Grapengiesser, Giulio, Rossi, and 

 Aldini, were then noticed. Wells allowed that electricity was 

 tlie agent, but denied that it was produced l)v the contact of the 

 metals, or by any inherent quality of the nmscles and nerves. At 

 length Volta proved to a demonstration, that by the contact and 

 separation of different metals electricity is reallv evolved ; a fact 

 which in sometime after led him to the grand discovery of the 

 pile, — a column erected to the memory of its inventor, and in- 

 scriljed with an epoch in the annals of knowledge. 



March 8. — Period II. The second period was commenced 

 v.ith the discovery of the Galvanic decomposition of water by 

 Nicholson and Carlisle. Mr. Cruickshank effected many de- 

 compositions, as of metallic and earthy salts : he drew up some 

 general conclusions ; and gave a new form to the pile, which 

 combined convenience with increase of power. Mr. Henry de- 

 composed sulphuric and nitric acids, and submitted other sub- 

 stances to examination. Colonel Haldane made many experi- 

 ments upon the metals most proper to form Galvanic arrange- 

 ments, but could not believe that the agent is electricity. Mr. 

 Davy repeated the experiments on the tlecomposition of water, 

 and ascertained some very singular circumstances of it : he 

 totnid that a fluid interposed in the pile, which can act che- 

 mically on the ph'.tes, greatly increases its power.* Ritter, struck 

 with the separate evolution of the gases in the decomposition of 

 water, was led to deny the constitution of that fluid, and to sub- 

 stitute some singular opinions for the received theory. Robert- 

 ^on considered the Galvanic influence peculiar, and of an acid 

 nature, lirugnatelli also supposed that it is an acid, but iden- 

 tical with electricity. Fourcroy, Vauquelin, Tkenard, and Leliot 

 d{ uied the identity of the (ialvanic and electric fluid : thev heated 

 wires red hot bj' means of large plates. Tromsdorf and Simon 

 rfTected the combustion of metals. Helvvige, Tvvast, Bourguet, 

 J'lhman, and Grapengicssex accomplished the combustion of 

 i>illanimablcs, 



Aitemptji 



