Franklin, Dufay and Ampere. ^11 



circuit from each side, so as to protUice reciprocai neutraliza- 

 tion by meeting midway. 



55. The effect upon the filings, as originally pointed out 

 by Oersted, is precisely such as would arise were the ponde- 

 rable matter of the wire resolved by each impulse into innu- 

 merable little magnets, situated so as to form tangents to as 

 many radii proceeding from the axis of the wire. 



56. Independently of the filings, the wires react with each 

 other as iftheir constitution, during subjection to the discharge, 

 were such as above supposed. When the discharges through 

 them concur in direction, they attract, because the left side of 

 one is next the right side of the other, bringing the opposite 

 poles of their little magnets into proximity; but when the 

 discharge is made in opposite directions, the two right or the 

 two left sides will be in proximity, and will, by the consequent 

 approximation of the similar poles of the little magnets, be 

 productive of repulsion. 



57. From these last-mentioned facts and considerations, it 

 must be evident thai, assuming that there is in a galvanized 

 wire a derangement of the poles of the constituent aethereo- 

 ponderable particles analogous to that permanently existing 

 in magnetized steel, involves no contradiction, no absurdity, 

 nor any thing but what is consistent with the researches and 

 inferences of Davy, Faraday, and other eminent investigators 

 of the phfEUomena of nature. 



Process by vohich the JEthereo-'ponderahle Atoms lioithin a Gal- 

 vanic Circuit are polarized htj the Chemical Reaction. 



58. In order that an aethereo-ponderable particle of oxygen 

 in any aqueous solution shall unite with an aethereo-ponderable 

 particle of zinc in a galvanic pair, there must be a partial re- 

 volution of the whole row of aethereo-ponderable zinc atoms, 

 with which the atom assailed is catenated by the attractions be- 

 tween dissimilar poles. Moreover, at the same time that the 

 metallic atoms are thus aflected, the atoms of water between the 

 metallic surfaces must untlergo a similar movement, by an 

 analogous reaction with poles of an opposite character, and 

 this movement must extend through the negative plate to the 

 conductor, by which it communicates with the zinc or electro- 

 positive plate. When the circuit is open, the power of com- 

 bination exercised by the zinc and oxygen is inadequate to 

 produce this movement in the whole chain of atoms, liquid 

 and metallic; but as it is indifferent whether any two atoms 

 are united with each other, or with any other atoms of the 

 same kind, the chemical force easily causes them to exchange 



