de M. Prechtel on the Fundamental State of the (Jury, 
helix ofiron wire, and magnetizing this hollow cylinder by means 
of the pole of a magnet, in the direction of its axis, this cylinder 
becomes a transverse magnet, one side of which presents the 
north pole, and the opposite side the south pole. This pheno- 
menon depends upon the fact already explained (3). I have 
shown that a solid bar of iron may be magnetized in the same 
manner by carrying homonomous magnetic poles on opposite 
sides in the plane of its axis. By thus treating a quadran- 
gular bar of iron, for example, its four corners will present 
throughout their whole length the magnetic arrangement already 
explamed with respect to the quadrangular endless magnet ; 
that is to say, one corner will present throughout its whole 
length the north pole, the following the south pole, the third the 
north pole, and the fourth the south pole; and the two extremi- 
ties do not exhibit signs of reciprocal polarity. By the same pro- 
cess, I so formed the magnetic arrangements in a cylindrical steel 
bar, that in one-half of its length it presented longitudinal magne- 
tism, and in the other half, transverse magnetism. One of its ends 
has anorth pole, and the northern magnetism diminishes to the 
centre, where there is indifference ; here, transverse magnetism 
distributed throughout the periphery of the other half com- 
mences. In this arrangement, these two magnetisms support 
each other reciprocally. 
Let us apply these magnetic phenomena to the electrical con- 
necting wire ; we shall there recognize all the properties which 
belong to transverse magnetism. If the connecting wire is 
prismatic, e. g. quadrangular or hexangular, we shall then find 
precisely the same magnetic arrangements as in the transverse 
magnets of the same form. If the wire has a cylindrical form, 
the magnetic arrangement is such as it ought to be according to 
the properties of transverse magnetism; nevertheless this arrange- 
ment is apparent, and consequently the cylindrical wire compli~ 
cates the phenomena instead of explaining them, as M. Berzelius 
has already observed. These properties of transverse magne- 
tism, founded on the facts now sketched, explain all the pheno- 
mena observed in the connecting wire, not only without difficulty, 
and without having recourse to any hypotheses of electric cur- 
rents, or of certain qualities of these currents; we may also 
predict what will happen by varying the combinations of the ex- 
periments to which the connecting wire may be subjected. (See 
the memoir in the fourth number of Gilbert’s Annales, 1821.) 
The difference which exists between common transverse mag- 
nets and the transverse magnetic charge of the connecting wire, 
depends upon the nature of the action of the electric pile. Nei- 
ther this pile, nor any electric force whatever, gives a simple and 
determinate impulse, as is the case with the action of the magnet, 
or with a plate of glass electrically charged (leyden jar) ; but the 
ile produces and receives these impulses every instant, so that 
the effect of this action is evident, notwithstanding that every in- 
