228 PHILOSOPHICAL TKANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1751. 



Our author first takes notice that electricity, being continued for some hours, 

 lessens the weight of the body electrified. He exemplifies this first on fluid 

 bodies ; two equal portions of which, before electrizing, he accurately weighs ; 

 and then the diflference between these 2 portions, one of which has been electrized 

 between 4 and 5 hours, and the other, though in the same room, not electrized 

 at all, is attributed to the operation of the electric eflfluvia, viz. 4 oz. of river 

 water exposed in a glass vessel of 4 inches diameter were electrized 5 hours, and 

 lost in their weight 8 grains. But 4 oz of river water, in the same kind of glass, 

 but not electrized, lost in the same time only 3 grains. And so of other fluids, 

 less or more. Also each lost more by electrizing in a tin vessel, than in a glass 

 one. When the vessels were narrower, all the fluids lost proportionally less. 

 And when the opening was nothing, or close stopped, the evaporation was no 

 thing by electrization. 



Hence our author concludes, 1 . That electricity augments the natural evapo 

 ration of liquors, unless those of a viscous kind, as oil of olives, which from 

 their tenacity lose nothing of their weight. 2. That electricity increases the 

 evaporation of liquors in proportion as they are more or less volatile. 3. That 

 electricity operates most in those vessels, which are most permeable to its efliu- 

 via, viz. in vessels of metal more than those of glass. 5. That the effects of 

 electrizing are not observed in vessels closely stopped. 



He afterwards put to the trial several substances of a more solid form. And 

 from these experiments he observes, that the electricity diminishes the weight of 

 solid bodies, only if these are impregnated with humours liable to evaporate : and 

 therefore it is only on the fluids in them that the electricity operates. 



Dr. B. then exhibits some experiments made by persons of credit, to discover, 

 whether electricity would accelerate the growth of plants ; and from several trials 

 he found that it did. There then follows a series of experiments, which prove, 

 that electricity augments the transpiration of animals. He proceeds to give a 

 theory of those distempers in which electricity seems to have the greatest eflects. 

 He confines himself however more particularly to the hemiplegia ; of which dis- 

 temper he gives the history, corresponding with what we find in the best medical 

 writers. He likewise gives the usual method of cure, and shows that the at- 

 tempts of relieving this malady by electricity, nearly square intentionally with the 

 remedies most celebrated in practice. That the electrical sparks and commotion 

 produce the same efifect, though in a more powerful manner, as warm sulphu- 

 reous baths, frictions, sinapisms, stinging with nettles, &c. generally made use 

 of in the cure of this distemper. This reasoning does very well in theory ; but 

 Mr. W. would have been glad to have seen it justified by practice, and his own 

 observations. But instead of these, our author contents himself with giving over 



