1815.] Remarks on ike Phenomena of Galvanism. 437 



opposite wires of a battery, wliich are the terminating points of a 

 broken circuit, the mechanical action resulting from their contrary 

 forces may induce them to unite with such rapidity as to render 

 manifest all their combustible energies. This principle of action, 

 and the probability that the bases of the galvanic fluids partake of 

 an oxygenous and hydrogenous nature, will enable us to form a 

 tolerably correct idea of the combustible effects of galvanism ; but 

 the most perplexing results attending the galvanic phenomena are 

 said to be the invisible transfer of dilFerent bodies through various 

 fluid media. 



From the view we have taken of the subject there must be at 

 tlie same time a distinct fluid quitting the end of each wire that 

 proceeds from the battery, when they are placed in an imperfect 

 conducting fluid medium ; and to keep up the evident circulation, 

 each fluid must endeavour to gain the wire opposite to the one it 

 has quitted; it is therefore highly probable that the opposing forces 

 of these contrary currents of the galvanic fluids, give rise to their 

 iK)vvers of deconipobition, rendered so manifest at the end of each 

 conducting wire of a battery. 



These general conclusions give us a new hypothetical view of 

 tlie galvanic phenomena, the truth or correctness of which, will be 

 the best ascertained by its application to explain what are termed 

 the most perplexing results in galvanism. 



In attempting to account for the invisible transfer of acid and 

 alkaline matter through various fluid media, and the appearance of 

 oxygen and hydrogen gases at the opposite wires of a battery, 

 when separated by a column of water some feet in length, the 

 correctness of this hypothesis will be put to a tolerably fair trial. 



If we consider the characters we have attributed to the galvanic 

 fluids, the invisible transfer of this acid and alkaline matter in 

 opposite directions appears consistent with the view we have taken 

 of the subject; for if the base of the j)ositive fluid partakes of an 

 oxygen nature, this fluid will probably convey to the negative 

 wire, by the influence of aflinity, the alkaline part of any saline 

 solution which is decomposed at the positive wire, and deposit the 

 greater portion of this transferred matter at the negative wire, 

 when it enters that metallic part of the circuit. 



We have supposed also that the base of the negative fluid may 

 partake of an hydrogenous or alkaline nature, consequently this 

 fluid may by the force of affinity convey the acid portion of any 

 saline solution decomposed at the negative end of the battery, 

 towards the positive wire ; and there deposit this acid matter, when 

 it enters the metallic part of the circuit; and this exchanging 

 process most probably goes on, until the alkaline part of the solu- 

 tion is collected round the negative wire, and the acid portion of 

 the same compound is collected round the positive wire of the 

 battery. On this principle we may account for the appearance of 

 oxygen and hydrogen gases at the opposite wires of a battery, 

 though separated by several feci of water. 



