Electricity. 105 



they have received, and then be in a state to be 

 attracted again, when they will again fly up to 

 the conductor ; and a very curious effect is pro- 

 duced by the little images being thus put in mo- 

 tion, as if by a kind of magical power. 



The human body itself may, in this manner, 

 be made a conductor; but to enable it to accu- 

 mulate any quantity of the electric matter, the 

 man must be insulated, that is, some non-con- 

 ducting substance must be placed between him 

 and the earth, and he must stand upon a cake of 

 rosin, wax, or sulphur, or upon a stool with 

 glass legs. If, then, he lays his hand upon the 

 conductor, his body will be filled with the elec- 

 trical matter, and sparks may be drawn from any 

 part, upon being touched by another person; 

 and each spark will be attended with a crackling 

 noise, and a painful sensation to each party. If, 

 in the same circumstances, spirit of wine is 

 presented to the man in a metal spoon, when 

 he touches it with his finger it will be set on 

 fire ; and gunpowder, or any other very inflam- 

 mable substance, may be kindled in the same 

 manner. 



As metals are the most powerful conductors 

 of electricity, if a wire of iron or any other metal 

 be suspended by silken cords (that is, insulated), 

 the electric matter may be conveyed to an im- 

 mense distance through dry air; for air is a non- 

 conducting substance when not moist, and there- 

 fore will not draw away the electric matter. In 



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