VOL. XLV.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 475 



that the electrical matter pervades the interior parts of bodies, and that it visibly 

 darts from within outward: for it is very plain, that these electrical emanations 

 must carry with tfiem whatever they find in the small vessels, through which they 

 issue. 



This explanation will occur to every one who has seen the principal phenomena 

 of electricity. But how shall we account for all the following effects.' all those 

 animals whose perspiration is increased on their being electrified; all those seeds 

 which shoot and grow quicker; all those liquors which evaporate; all that accelera- 

 tion of liquids, flowing through tubes, all those particulars happen in the same 

 manner when, instead of electrifying those bodies themselves, they are only held 

 near electrical bodies of a pretty large bulk. The notion he had for 3 years past 

 formed of electricity, not only affords an explication of this, as simple as the for- 

 mer, but it was this same notion that led him to the experiments, and made him 

 even foresee their success. 



Several Essays towards Discoverins; the Laws of Electricity. By Mr, John Ellicot, 



F.R.S. N°486, p. 195. 



In the preceding letter from the Abbe Nolet, containing his observations on the 

 increase of the transpiration of animals, and the growth of vegetables, by means of 

 the electrical effluvia, he takes notice, that he was led to those inquiries, from the 

 acceleration which was given to the motion of fluids through capillary tubes, on 

 their being electrified. As Mr. E. formerly made several experiments on this sub- 

 ject, he submits the following observations on those experiments : in which he has 

 chiefly endeavoured to prove, that the acceleration of the motion of fluids through 

 capillary tubes or syphons, is not barely owing to their being electrified, but that, 

 in all cases whatever, there are some other circumstances necessary, in order to 

 produce this effect. And he doubts not but to make this fully appear, by show- 

 ing that water, being electrified, may either be made to run in a constant stream 

 through a capillary tube or s}'phon, or only to drop, as if it had not been elec- 

 trified at all : and also, that the water may be made to run from the same syphon 

 in a constant stream, without being made electrical, but cease to run, and only 

 drop, the moment it becomes electrical. He first lays down the following general 

 principles : 1 . That the several phenomena are produced by means of effluvia. 2. 

 That the particles composing these effluvia strongly repel each other. 3. That 

 the said particles are strongly attracted by most if not all other bodies whatever. 



That the electrical phenomena are produced by means of effluvia, is in gene- 

 ral acknowledged by all the authors on electricity, however they may differ in opi- 

 nion with regard to the bodies in which they are contained. The properties above- 

 mentioned of these effluvia, may be easily deduced from most of the treatises lately 

 published on this subject. But to leave no room for any objection, he observes, 



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