Chap. 5] Evaporation increafed ly EleBricity. 341 



proves this hypothecs to be without foundation, hav- 

 ing made the experiment by fubftituting for the black 

 . ftocking another of a different colour, and even a white 

 one ; but he confefles, that when the experiment was 

 made with two white filk {lockings the effects were 

 weak. 



Electrical attraction appears not to be fo ftrong 

 in vacuo as in the open air. From feveral experi- 

 ments of Beccaria's we learn, that if the air is tho- 

 roughly exhaufted out of a glafs receiver, the attrac- 

 tion and repulfion of electrified" light bodies within 

 the receiver becomes languid, and .foon ceafes altoge- 

 ther. 



Electricity augments the natural evaporation of fluids, 

 and efpecially of thofe fluids which are moft fubject to 

 evaporation of themfelvesj and it has alfo a great ef- 

 feet on fluids, when the vefiels containing them are 

 non-electrics. If a humid body, a fponge for inftance, 

 is placed upon a conductor pofitively electrified, the 

 evaporation will proceed much more rapidly, and it 

 will be much fooner dry, than a fimilar body differently 

 circumftanced. 



Dr. Prieftley alfo gives us reafon to fuppofe, that 

 plants, when electrified, vegetate earlier and more vi- 

 goroufly than thofe which have not been fubjected to 

 this influence. 



That electricity increafes the infenfible perfpiration, 

 of animals, may be inferred from the circumftance that 

 electrified animals are always lighter than thofe which 

 are not. 



The ftream of electrical fluid has no fenfible heat, 

 but even appears cold to the touch ; yet we have feen 

 that the more inflammable bodies, and particularly 

 fpirit of wine, may be ignited by it. This experiment 

 piay be eafily made by a fpark from a common ma- 

 Z chine. 



