400 Miscellanies., 



That this adhesion which has been hitherto ascribed to capillary 

 attraction is due to electricity may be proved thus. It has been found 

 that the force with which glass, gum lac, sealing wax, sulphur, &c. 

 &c. adhere to the surface of mercury is directly proportional to the 

 quantity of electricity which they develope, as measured by the tor- 

 sion balance. 



If we are to attribute capillary action to electricity, it would follow 

 of course, that the position of liquids in tubes ought to be deranged by 

 electricity and accordingly it is found, that a voltaic arrangement of 

 half a dozen or ten alternations has as complete a control as it has 

 over the magnetic needle. Nay it will even reverse their natural mo- 

 tion, causing those fluids that sink to rise immediately and those that 

 rise to sink, and if the tube be capable of motion, it immediately 

 moves in an opposite direction. 



The details of this theory offer explanations of some interesting 

 chemical facts, such as the decomposition of peroxide of hydrogen 

 and persulphureted hydrogen by metallic peroxides. And from the 

 rise of temperature which it indicates in a membrane undergoing gas- 

 eous endosmosis ? may perhaps be found some key to the origin of an- 

 imal heat. 



If sir there be any point on which you would wish more particu- 

 lar information it will be a pleasure to me to give it. The original 

 papers are, I believe, to be read before the Royal Society of Lon- 

 don, they were forwarded to Mr. Faraday and Dr. Turner for that 

 purpose.* 



ifety of 



Extract of a letter from Mr. George Chilton, to the Editor, dated New York, June 



23, 1834. 



Dear Sir. — Observing in the last No. of the Journal, a notice of 

 Ewbank's patent tinned lead pipes, and having had many applications 

 for information concerning the danger attending the use of metal pipes 

 for conveying water, beer, cider, he. — I have been induced to subject 

 the pipes of Ewbank, to a few trials, for the purpose of ascertaining 

 whether, from the occasional contact of acids, any deleterious solu- 

 tion of lead, would attend their ordinary use* It is well known, that 

 the common beer pump, with a leaden pipe, has frequently given to 

 the liquor, a dangerous impregnation, especially after remaining stag- 



• We should like more ample details from our correspondent. — Ed. 



