61 



Hydrogen gas in general prevents the emission of spontaneous 

 light, and also extinguishes it when emitted ; but at the same time 

 it does not hinder its quick revival when the subject of 'the experi- 

 ment is again exposed to the action of atmospherical air. 



The carbonic acid gas lias also an extinguishing property ; but in 

 general the light will soon return if the subject of the experiment be 

 replaced in the open air. Hepatic gas extinguishes spontaneous 

 light much sooner than carbonic acid gas, and the light is much 

 longer in returning when the subject is exposed in atmospheric air. 

 Nitrous gas prevents the emission of light even to such a degree that 

 a long subsequent exposure to common air cannot restore it. A 

 vacuum suspends the emission of spontaneous light, but it returns 

 immediately on the re-admission of air. 



A few experiments on solar light, when imbibed by Canton's phos- 

 phorus, are here subjoined, from which we learn in general that this 

 light is subject to the same laws with respect to the influence of heat 

 and cold, as the spontaneous light of fishes, rotten wood, and glow- 

 worms, of which an ample account is contained in the author's paper 

 on this subject, already published in the Transactions. 



Experiments on the Chemical Production and Agency of Electricity. 

 By William Hyde WoUaston, M.D. F.R.S. Read June 25, 

 1801. [Phil. Trans. 1801, p. 427.] 



The power of Professor Volta's pile to produce galvanism is now 

 supposed to depend on the disposition of one of the metals employed, 

 to be oxidated by the fluid interposed ; but a doubt is still enter- 

 tained whether that oxidation depends on electricity set in motion 

 by the contact of the metals, or whether the electricity be excited 

 by some chemical action of the substances used. The experiments 

 described in the present paper seem to favour the latter opinion, 

 viz. that a chemical agency is the cause of the effects produced. 



They go principally to prove that this chemical agency of common 

 electricity is the same as the power excited in Professor Volta's 

 apparatus, likewise by chemical means. The production of airs by 

 the electric pile is here imitated, and even the appearance of two 

 currents is produced, by occasioning the electricity to pass by fine 

 points of communication on both sides of the water at the same time, 

 each wire yielding both hydrogen and oxygen gas. 



It is also observed, that in the same manner as in Professor Volta's 

 apparatus, there is manifestly a disposition to oxidate on the positive 

 side alone ; and that although oxygen gas be given as well as hydro- 

 gen by the negative wire, that wire is never perceptibly oxidated ; 

 while the positive one, when of silver, uniformly shows a stream of 

 oxide proceeding from it. This is accounted for by the supposition 

 that the difference between these two effects is owing to the greater 

 intensity of common electricity in the method hitherto employed ; 

 and it is ultimately inferred that galvanism probably differs solely in 

 quantity and want of intensity from common electricity. 



