74 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1744. 



Account of a Booh concerning Electricity, just published at Leipzic, J 744. Bi/ 

 John Henry IVinkler, Greek and Latin Professor there. N° 474, p. l66. 



The electrical sparks from metals, such as iron and silver, are capable of kind- 

 ling all such fluids as may be otherwise kindled by actual flame. And this experi- 

 ment succeeds best, when the quinta essentia vegetabilis is held in a spoon under 

 the cross of a sword, its point being turned towards the electrifying glass. In like 

 manner, the same spirits may easily be set on fire, by the sparks proceeding from 

 an electrified tube of tin. 



This experiment with the sparks coming from metals when made electric, was 

 first made by Dr. Ludolph, of Berlin ; who, toward the beginning of the present 

 year 1744, kindled, with the sparks excited by the friction of a glass tube, the 

 ethereal spirits of Frobenius. This account was not only related in the Berlin 

 Gazette, of the 30th of May last; but has been since confirmed by several 

 letters, sent from Berlin to Leipsic, to Count Manteufet, immediately after the 

 experiment. 



Mr. Marscall, who now studies here, also communicated to me a letter he had 

 received from Berlin concerning the same ; and I have since been also certified of 

 it, by the account of several men of learning, that had seen the experiment at 

 Berlin, and that have since visited me at this place. 



Lastly, Mr. Reinhart, who came hither about last Easter, being told that the 

 experiment was not difficult to be made; and that the liquor, called quinta essentia 

 vegetabilis,* might very readily be kindled by the electrical sparks; Mr. W. im- 

 mediately sent for some of that essence, and found the experiment succeed to 

 his wish. 



Red-hot iron sets no spirits on fire, though held very near to those spirits , but 

 if that iron be made electric, its electric sparks very readily kindle all well-rectified 

 spirits. 



The sparks that proceed from the body of a man, made electrical, kindle spirits 

 as quickly as those fi-om electrified metal, whether the body of the man is rendered 

 electric immediately by the glass tube, or by the intermediate tube of tin. 



Mr. W. made this experiment with success on himself Neither himself, nor 

 any of the company, knew, at that time, that the electric sparks, from the body 

 of a man, were capable of kindling spirits ; but on seeing the quinta essentia 

 vegetabilis kindled with extraordinary quickness, by the sparks proceeding from 

 an iron tube that was rusty, one of the company started the question, whether 

 the sparks from the body of a man, might not possibly do the same? On which 

 Mr. W. immediately stept on to a frame, over which blue silken lines were ex- 



* i. e. Spirit of wine so highly rectified, as, being poured upon gunpowder, and then beipg set 

 -on fire, will at last flash the gunpowder. C. M. — Orig. 



