454 Remarks on the Phenomena of Galvanism. [Junk, 



the similarity of character there is between some of the gaseous 

 bodies and the galvanic fluids, a general view of those analogies 

 will be found of considerable advantage throughout the most obscure 

 and difficult part of the inquiry. 



If a united stream of oxygen and hydrogen gases be lighted, and 

 blown upon bodies that are even difficult of combustion, they will 

 be quickly consumed by the continued action of these gases ; and it 

 is also a fact, that when the two galvanic fluids arc thrown upon the 

 same class of bodies they will produce similar eflects. In the 

 common and regular process of combustion the presence of oxygen 

 is indispensably necessary ; but when the bodies to be burnt are 

 placed in a gas that contains no oxygen, or even in an exhausted 

 receiver, they may be consumed by the agency of the galvanic 

 fluids. 



When a galvanic battery acts in the most powerful manner, par- 

 ticularly in the display of its chemical energies, there is a singular 

 coincidence of results during its action that is worthy of notice, for 

 a part of the water in the battery is decomposed, and at the same 

 time two galvanic fluids appear to be liberated from the battery, 

 whose character, in many other instances besides those just men- 

 tioned, bears a strong resemblance to the two gases obtained from 

 the decomposition of water. 



At present we may not be able to comprehend clearly the law by 

 which these newly discovered galvanic combinations are generated ; 

 but if we follow the evident changes that water undergoes by its 

 tmion with different portions of caloric, we may perhaps venture to 

 infer that these galvanic agents are generated during the action of 

 tlie battery by a principle somewhat similar. 



Water in its solid form, or character, of ice, is united compara- 

 tively with a small quantity of caloric, when combined with a larger 

 portion of this agent, it obtains the liquid state : but if united to a 

 still greater portion, it assumes the character of steam, and often 

 displays a mechanical force that is as singularly striking as the power 

 of the galvanic fluids. By the application of a greater degree of 

 heat than what is necessary for the changes already stated, the con- 

 stituent parts of water become separated, and assume the state of 

 two invisible gases, whose peculiarities approximate much nearer 

 the character of the galvanic fluids : for the fact that oxygen and 

 hvdrogen gases mixed in proper quantities enter into combustion, 

 when sufficiently influenced by heat or a mechanical force, presents 

 a strong feature of those agents ; as it is more than probable, from 

 the velocity with which the galvanic fluids move, that in many 

 instances they produce a high degree of temperature by their 

 mechanical action upon each glher, and the bodies that impede 

 their free circulation, which gives rise to their combustible energies. 



Although a variety of circumstances already mentioned appear to 

 support the idej), that the bases of the galvanic fluids are derived 

 from the liquid in the battery, and p;irtake of an oxygenous and 

 hydrogenous nature ; still it is extremely probable that these newly 



