frame, and turned 



,ir 



1 62 Experiment in Chemical Decomposition. 



small battery oF magnets I have actually decomposed water. 

 You will therefore excuse me for making this communication 

 to you in this manner. 



A wheel and axle is connected to a 

 by the handle ; a number of magnets 

 (there must not be an odd number) is 

 inserted round this wheel, and firmly 

 secured in their berths, the wheel having 

 spaces cut out to receive them, as shown in 

 fig. 2. ; two of the magnets are shown in 

 their place at fig. 1, b b; in the same figure 

 are the lifters, which are secured firmly lo 

 a board fast to the frame, as will be shown 

 immediately. In placing the magnets in the 

 wheel, which you perceive are the horse- 

 shoe ones, every second magnet is placed 

 differently. If the magnet at No. 1 has the 

 north pole next the edge of the wheel, and 

 the south next the axis. No. 2 has the south 

 at the circumference, and the north at the 

 axis, and so alternately ; the ends of the 

 magnets project a little beyond the sur- 

 face of the wheel. There are as many lifters as magnets, 

 placed firm in a board, exactly to correspond with the wheel, 

 but made firm to the frame, and in such a manner as to per- 

 mit the wheel to turn readily, so that the magnets will pass 

 close to them. When any one magnet is in contact with a lifter, 

 all the others are the same. In passing the wire round these 

 lifters, care must be taken to make the turns of the helix be 

 reversed in every second lifter, so that the currents of electri- 

 city will be all in one direction, although the poles of the mag- 

 nets are reversed; by connecting the two ends of the wire to 

 guarded points, and inserting them in a small tube containing 

 water, on turning the wheel the decomposition will take place 

 rapidly. 



I put a small projector on the wheel at every magnet, 

 which, on touching a spring, separated the two wires every 

 time ; and at the moment the pole was reversed, the spark be- 

 came visible. Wishing you success in this very interesting 

 field for discovery, I am, Sir, 



Your very humble Servant, 



P.M. 



