194 



The electric sparks of iron are of a silver white, those 

 of brass, green, and those drawn from an egg, yel- 

 lov.ish. This seems to prove, that the electric matter 

 issuing from a body, is saturated wi*h some parts pecu- 

 liar to it. 



Electricity quickens almost all sorts of motion, that 

 of water iu particular, which then glitters in the dart, 

 the hie appearing iienningled with the water. It acce- 

 lerates the motion of the human blood, quickening the 

 pulse. o fifteui or sixteen strokes in a minute. The 

 blcod that fi<,v;s from the vein of one electrified, glis- 

 sepai ... into smail drops, and spouts out consider- 

 abay farther thin, otherwise it would do. 



li exceedingly hastens the vegetation of plants. Myr- 

 tle trees, which were electrified, budded much sooner 

 than others of the same kind and bigness, in the same 

 green-house. And seeds elrctriiied daily, have shot up 

 and grown more in. three or four days, than others of 

 the same kind, ai,d alike in ail other circumstances, have- 

 done in eleven or twelve. 



It cures abundance of diseases, even the most stub- 

 born; particularly those of the nervous kind ; many of 

 them in a moment, by a single touch; most, in a l\v 

 days. So that this is not only one of the greatest curi- 

 osities in .the world, but one of the noblest medicines 

 that God ever gave to man. 



Another phenomenon, \slach could never before l>e 

 aecouriteU for, is undoubtedly owing to this cause, die 

 spaiU-ng observed on^mjw flannel, when it is rubbed in 

 the dark. Very probably the acid steams of sulphur, 

 which is burnt under tbe flannel when it is bleached, 

 unite \\jith ihe oil wherewithal.- always abounds, and so 

 form an animal sulphur, which upor any strong agitation 

 of these hairs, wiii become luminous. This sparkiingis 

 most observable in frosty weather, as electricity is always 

 strongest %at that tune. Flannel loses this property when 

 it is Wiithe<i, the li\ivial salts of the i>oap, destroying the 

 sulphureous acid, .and likewise discharging its native 



