39 ( 2, GALVANISM. 



produce all the effects above-mentioned in the 

 most satisfactory manner. Two of these batteries 

 will, if properly prepared, exhibit most of the usual 

 experiments. 



The galvanic shock is similar to that from a 

 common electrical battery weakly charged, and not 

 like a small Leyden phial fully charged. The dif- 

 ference appears to consist in this, that the latter 

 contains a small quantity of the electric fluid much 

 condensed. 



If a wire, proceeding from one extremity of a 

 pretty strong galvanic battery, be made to com- 

 municate witli the inside coating of a common large 

 jar, or electrical battery, and a wire whicli pro- 

 ceeds from the other extremity be made to com- 

 municate with the outside coating, the latter will 

 become weakly, but almost instantaneously, charged, 

 in the same manner as if it had been charged by a 

 few turns of a common electrical machine j and 

 with that charge you may produce the same effects 

 as by equal quantity of common electricity. 



The Voltaic battery has a great superiority over 

 the common electrical machine, in the qua?itity of 

 electricity excited ; but is very inferior with re- 

 spect to the intensity of the charge, or its power of 

 forcing through any stratum of air, or other imper- 

 fect conductor. The sensation called shock, de- 

 pends chiefly upon the intensity : hence, although 

 a large Voltaic battery will produce a great quan- 

 tity of the electric fluid, yet the shock is compara- 

 tively small. In the Voltaic battery, the electricity 

 cannot even force its way through the water that 

 separates the plates, but common electricity will 

 pass through a large space of water : it has even 

 been sent across the Thames. 



