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90 On the Electrical Properties of Flame. 
in the same list as other conductors of electricity. When two 
metallic wires, or other conductors which are connected at one 
end, are brought into contact with a “ag soneiet heated gas, we 
have, properly speaking, a closed circuit. If one of the places of 
contact with the gas be more strongly heated than the other, a 
thermo-electric current is the necessary conseque 
There is, however, another source of buctatel Texeisaniol in 
the flame, as is proved by the following experiment :—One plati- 
num wire was introduced into the obscure centre of the flame, 
the other was brought near its outer surface; a current immedi- 
tely exhibited itself, which passed through the flame from the in- 
terior to the ex xterior wire. It continued to pass in the direction 
even after the outer wire had attained a bright red heat, while 
the inner one glowed but feebly. It is evident that the thermo- 
current which would have passed from the hotter to the cooler 
Wire, was in this case overcome by a-current, the source of 
which was the place of contact of the flame: and the air, The 
electricity a developed is so feeble, that the. condensing elec- 
tronometer is better suited to its examination ‘than the multiply- 
ing patviaidtheter: It is easy to see, o s.the author, how 
excitation may have arrived at coiitradictoty results. ~ ~ 
By properly connecting a platinum wire, ‘which was dipped 
into the centre of the flame, with a condensing plate, the latter 
became chaiged with negative electricity, and hence the author 
concludes that positive “electricity is given off by the outer 
surface of the flame. The charging here is exceedingly slow; 
and can be greatly accelerated when a second wire, which 38 
eee with the other plate of the ileus, 3 is held over the 
flam 
One end of the galvanometer wire was connected with the pla- 
tinum wire which dipped into the centre of the flame, the other 
end of the same was connected with the earth. The current 
ios cbtained was too feeble to cause the slightest motion of the 
galvanometer needle. But when a spacious platinum dish com 
taining water was brought over the flame and connected with 
the other end of the galvanometer wire, it renin no very sensi- 
tive instrument to demonstrate the existence of a current. 
“ Hence,” observes the author, “as the strength of the flame 
eurrent by an equal chemical activity and equal conduction of 
the inner portion of the flame is essentially dependent on the p% 
ture of the sae from its upper portion, it must be conjec” 
tured that the formation and carrying away of earbonie acid eX 
ercises wed Souboedtnckea: influence in — is 
