ELECTRICITY, 36/ 



When the weather is clear, and the air dry, es- 

 pecially in clear and frosty weather, the electrical 

 machine will work well; but when the weather is 

 very hot, the machine is not so powerful; nor in 

 damp weather, except it be brought into a warm 

 room, and the cylinder, the stands, the jars, &c. 

 be made thoroughly dry. 



Before the machine is used, the cylinder should 

 be first wiped very clean with a soft linen cloth 

 that is dry, clean, and warm ; and afterwards with 

 a clean hot flannel, or an old silk handkerchief ; 

 this done, apply a little amalgam, and turn the 

 winch, and it will soon be perceived that the elec- 

 tric fluid will come like a wind from the cylinder 

 to the knuckle; and, if the motion be continued, 

 sparks and cracklings will soon follow. This indi- 

 cates that the machine is in good order; and the 

 electrician may proceed to perform his experiments. 

 But if, when the winch is turned for some time, 

 no wind is felt upon the knuckle, then the fault is, 

 very likely, in the rubber; and to remedy that, 

 observe the following directions : by unscrewing the 

 screws on the back of the rubber, remove it from 

 its glass pillar, and keep it near the fire a little, so 

 that its silk part may be dried: take now a piece of 

 dry mutton suet, or a little tallow from the candle, 

 and just pass it over the leather of the rubber, and 

 then the machine will be fit for use. 



Sometimes the machine will not work well, be- 

 cause the rubber is not sufficiently supplied with 

 electric fluid, which happens when the table upon 

 which the machine stands, and to which the chain 

 of the rubber is connected, is very dry, and conse- 

 quently in a bad conducting state. Even the floor, 

 and the walls of the room, are, in very dry weather, 

 bad conductors, and they cannot supply the rubber 



