298 Extrication of the Alkalifiable Metals, © 
this wire were made to reach into the mereury in the capsule L. 
Over the mouth of the bell F, after the ‘introduction of the flask 
and coil, some bed-ticking was tied, so as to. prevent contact be- 
tween the platina and mercury, and to check as much as possible, 
any reunion between the radical taken up by the one, and the 
chlorine liberated by the other. Into the bell T,, a saturated so- 
lution of the chloride to be décomposed was poured, and some 
coarsely powdered crystals of the same compound added. Of 
course the solution, by penetrating the ticking, came into con- 
tact with the mercury.” ¢ 
Electrolytic Process. 
‘The peculiar mechanism of my apparatus, by which, in ten 
seconds, the acid may be thrown on or off of the plates, enables 
the operator, within that time, after a due arrangement of the 
poles is made, to put either or both of the deflagrators in opera- 
tion, or to suspend the action of either or both. ‘This mode of. 
completing or breaking the circuit gives a great advantage in de- 
flagrating wires ; or in the processes, wherein dry cyanides, phos- 
phurets, or carburets are to be exposed to voltaic action in vacuo, 
orin hydrogen. It enables us to arrange every part of the ap- 
paratus so as to produce the best effect upon the body to be acted 
upon, and then to cause a discharge of the highest intensity of 
which the series is capable, by subjecting the plates to the acid 
previously lying inactive in the adjoining trough. . : 
In the case in point, where a chloride was to be decomposed, 
the deflagrators could be made to act through the same elec- 
trodes, either simultaneously or alternately. Of these facilities I 
thus availed myself: : 
Having supplied each deflagrator with a charge of diluted acid 
of one fourth of the usual strength, I began with No. 1, and at 
the end of five minutes superseded it by putting No. 2 into ope 
ration. Meanwhile, having added to No. 1 as much more acid 
as at first, at the end of the second five minutes, I superseded No. 
2 by No. 1; and in like manner, again superseded No. 1 by No. 
2. Having thus continued the alternate action of the deflagra 
tors for about twenty minutes, both were made to act upon the 
electrodes simultaneously, the balance of acid requisite to com 
plete the charge having been previously added. ; 
