MICROSCOPIC WRITING. 



current can be transmitted and suspended alternately with chro- 

 nometric regularity, so that, for example, the interval of its 



F:g. 8, Appearance as seen in the field of the Microscope, the outer circle being only 

 l-30th of an inch in diameter. 



transmission and suspension shall be exactly one second of time, 

 then the motion to and fro of the contact piece will also be per- 

 formed with the same chronometric regularity, in intervals of one 

 second. It is evident, therefore, that if such a contact piece, so 

 moving, be put in connection with a properly constructed frame of 

 wheel-work, it may be used to impart motion to the hands of a 

 timepiece. 



It appears also that the same regularly intermitting current 

 may be transmitted to any number of timepieces, at any distance 

 whatever from each other, by means of conducting wires similar 

 to those of the electric telegraph ; and since the length of such 

 intermediate wires does not affect their power of transmission, it 



207 



