G'aloank Apparatus, Theory of Galvanism, C^c. 28J) 



hollow ends of the pipes. The jars being furnished with diluted 

 acid and the coils suddenly lowered into them, no vestige of the 

 charcoal could be seen. It was ignited so intensely, that those 

 portions of the pipes by which it had been embraced were de- 

 stroyed. In order to avoid a useless and tiresome repetrtion, I 

 will here state that the coils were only kept in the acid while the 

 action at the poles was at a maxinnun in the experiment just 

 mentioned, and in others which I am about to describe, unless 

 where the decomposition produced by water is spoken of, or the 

 sensation excited in the hands. I designate the apparatus with 

 which I performed them, as the galvanic deflagrator, on account 

 of its superior power, in proportion to its size, in causing defla- 

 gration ; and as, in the form last adopted, it differs from the vol- 

 taic pile in the omission of one of the elements heretofore deemed 

 iiecessary to its construction. 



Desirous of seeing the effect of the simultaneous immersion of 

 my series upon water, the pipes soldered to the poles were intro- 

 duced into a vessel containing that fluid. No extraordinary effect 

 was perceived, until they were very near, when a vivid flash was 

 observed, and happening to touch almost at the same time, they 

 were found fused and incorporated at the place of contact. I next 

 soldered to each pipe a brass cylinder of about five-tenths of an 

 inch bore. These cylinders were made to receive the tapering 

 extremities of a piece of charcoal about two inches long so as to 

 complete the circuit. The submersion of the coils caused the 

 most vivid ignition in the coal. It was instantaneously and en- 

 tirely on fire. A piece of platina of about a quarter of an inch 

 diameter in connexion with one pole, was instantly fused at the 

 end on being brought in contact with some mercury communi- 

 cating with the other. When two cylinders of charcoal having 

 hemispherical terminations were fitted into the brass cylinders 

 and brought nearly into contact, a most vivid ignition took place, 

 and continued after they were removed about a half or three quar- 

 ters of an inch apart, the interval rivalling the sun in brilliancy. 

 The igneou^; fluid appeared to proceed from the positive side. The 

 charcoal in the cylinder soldered to the latter would be intensely 

 ignited throughout when the piece conriected with the negative 

 pole was ignited more tovvards the extremity approaching the 

 positive. The most intense action seems to arise from placing a 

 platina wire of about the eighth of an inch diameter, in con- 

 nexion with the positive pole, and bringing it in contact with, 

 and afterwards removing it a small distance apait from a piece 

 of charcoal (fresh from the fire) aUixed to the other pole. 



As points are pre- eminently capable of carrying off (without 

 being injured) a current of the electrical fluid, and very ill qualified 

 to conduct caloricj while, by facilitating rudiutiou, charcoal fa- 

 vours 



