THEORY OF GALVANISM. 145 



forces destroy each other. The essential effect of 

 the galvanic pile is conceived to be that of re- 

 storing the particles that are combined together, 

 and in consequence of this combination, have their 

 electric energy partially neutralized, to their ori- 

 ginal state of intensity, or, as the author expresses 

 it, to re-polarize them.* 



If we proceed upon the supposition that electri- Remarks* 

 city is the general cause of chemical affinity, we 

 must admit literally, that the primary action of 

 the pile is electrical, and that the chemical changes 

 which its component parts experience, are to be 

 regarded as an effect, and not as a cause. But 

 this reasoning applies rather to the explanation of 

 chemical affinity in general, than to what respects 

 the galvanic apparatus in particular. It would not 

 be inconsistent to regard a chemical change as the 

 immediate cause of the action of the pile, al- 

 though we might be induced to consider this che- 

 mical change, as well as all other chemical changes, 

 to be dependent upon electricity. The question 

 still remains, what is the first step in the process 

 which constitutes the essential operation of the 

 pile? Does the oxidation of the zinc depend 

 upon any previous disturbance of the electrical 

 condition of the two metals, or does the oxidation 

 of the metal produce a change in its electrical 

 condition ? This view of the subject will reduce 



* Journ. de Phys. Ixxiii. 251 ; Stockholm Mem. for 1812, 

 xxxiii. 166, 223. 



I. 



