of Electrical Science. 7 



man of Tiberius was cured of the gout by the 

 shocks of the torpedo. It is further recorded 

 that Wolimer, the King of the Goths, was able 

 to emit sparks from his body. 



Coming down to more modern times A.D. 

 1600 we find Dr. Gilbert, an Englishman, tak- 

 ing up the investigation of the electrical pro- 

 perties of various substances when submitted 

 to friction, and formulating them in the order 

 of their importance. In these experiments we 

 have the beginnings of what has since de- 

 veloped into a great science. He made the 

 discovery that when the air was dry he could 

 soon electrify the substances rubbed, but when 

 it was damp it took much longer and some- 

 times he failed altogether. In 1705 Francis 

 Ilawksbee, an experimental philosopher, dis- 

 covered that mercury could be rendered lumi- 

 nous by agitating it in an exhausted receiver. 

 (It is a question whether this phenomenon 

 should not be classed with that of phosphor- 

 escence rather than electricity.) The nujnber 

 of investigators was so great that all of 

 thorn cannot be mentioned. It often happens 

 that those who do really most for a science 

 are never known to fame. A number of 

 people will make small contributions till the 

 structure has by degrees assumed large pro- 

 ins, when finally some one comes along 

 and puts a gilded dome on it and the whole 

 structure takes his name. This is eminently 



