HISTORY OF GALVANISM. 69 



alkalies were found uniformly to observe this 

 order ; and it was perceived, that when sub- 

 stances, not supposed to be soluble in water, 

 formed part of the circuit, they were also de- 

 composed, and their components carried to the 

 positive and negative wires respectively. In this 

 way was effected the decomposition of sulphate of 

 lime, sulphate of strontites, fluate of lime, and 

 sulphate of barytes. It was also perceived, that 

 where small portions of acid and alkaline bodies 

 entered into the composition of solid earths, they 

 might be detected by the galvanic influence, and 

 would be transmitted to their respective wires. 

 In this way, lime and soda were obtained from 

 basalt and from zeolite, potash from lepidolite, &c. 

 In proportion to the solubility of a salt, its de- 

 composition was the more readily accomplished; 

 and when neutral salts were employed, the sepa- 

 ration of the component parts seems to have been 

 quite complete. 



The tendency which different substances pos- Transfer of 

 sess to attach themselves to their appropriate wires, {Jentsof *~ 

 causes them to be transferred across a medium com P unds - 

 which may be interposed. Thus, if muriate of PLATE u. 

 lime be at the positive wire, the lime will pass, '5' 

 for a considerable space, to gain the negative 

 wire, and may be conveyed from one vessel to 

 another along the conducting fibres of the as- 

 bestos. In the same manner, when nitrate of 

 silver was on the positive side, and distilled water 

 on the negative, the silver passed along the trans- 



