Sect. L] ElecfrkUij. ^ 



which have proved highly convenient, and are still 

 iu use. About 1742 electricity began to excite 

 attention, and became the subject of much inquiry 

 in Germany. Professor Bozc, of Wittemburgh, 

 and professor Winckler, of Leipsic, invented several 

 improvements in tiie apparatus for conducting ex^ 

 periments. Dr. Ludolf, of Berlin, first succeeded 

 ill setting fire to inflammable substances by the 

 electric fluid ; and Mr. Waitz, Mr. Allamand, 

 and others, made some new observations, though 

 chief] V of the smaller kind. To the experiments 

 in Germany succeeded those of Dr. William \A'at- 

 6on, in Great Britain. He first ascertained that 

 the friction of an electric did not produce, but only 

 collectedy the mysterious matter which wrought 

 such powerful effects ; and also made a number of 

 other interesting additions to the knowledge before 

 existing on the subject. The year 1745 was di- 

 stinguished by a discovery still more remarkable 

 and important than any that preceded it — viz. the 

 jnethod of giving a shock, by accumulating the 

 electric fluid in ajar, and discharging it by means 

 of a conductor. Tiiis discovery was made by 

 Mr. von Kleist, dean of the cathedral in Camin; 

 and the next year the experiment being repeated 

 in a dilYerent manner, and with better success, by 

 Mr. Cunocus, of Ley den, the jar so filled became 

 generally known by the name of the Leydai phial^ 

 which it has retained to the present day. Suoa 

 afterwards, Mr. Gralalh, a German, first contrived 

 to increase tlie shock by charging several phials at 

 the same time, and making what is now called a 

 'battery. 



About the same time experiments began to be 



