ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF SILK. 16;) 



any part of the apparatus. A dense stream of 

 electricity appeared between the rod and the silk, 

 and the conductor gave very many sparks. 



5. The knob of a jar being substituted in the 

 place of the metallic rod, it became charged nega- 

 tively. 



6. The silk alone, with a piece of tinfoil applied 

 behind it, afforded much electricity, though less 

 than when the cushion was applied with a light 

 pressure. The hand being applied to the silk as a 

 cushion, produced a degree of excitation seldom 

 equalled by any other cushion. 



7. The edge of the hand answered as well as the 

 palm. 



8. When the excitation by a cushion was weak, 

 a line of light appeared at the anterior part of the 

 cushion, and the silk was strongly disposed to re- 

 ceive electricity from any uninsulated conductor. 

 These appearances did not obtain when the excita- 

 tion was by any means made very strong. 



9. A thick silk, or two or more folds of silk, ex- 

 cited worse than a single very thin flap. The silk 

 used was that which the milliners call Persian. 



10. When the silk was separated from the cylinder, 

 sparks passed between them ; the silk was found to 

 be in a weak negative, and the cylinder in a posi- 

 tive state. 



The foregoing experiments show that the office 



VOL. III. M 



