ilO Harems J\'^iv Galvanic Apijuratus, Theory, ^-e. 



the most vivid ignition which I ever saw was induced, i 

 should deem it imprudent to repeat the experiment vvithouT 

 glasses, as my eyes, though unusually strong, v^eve affected 

 for forty-eight hours afterwards. If the intensity of the 

 light did not produce an optical deception, by its distressing 

 influence upon the organs of vision, the charcoal assumed 

 a pasty consistence, as if in a state approaching to fusion. 

 That cliarcoal should be thus softened, without being de- 

 stroyed by the oxygen of the atmosphere, will not appear 

 strange, when the power of galvanism in reversing chemical 

 affinities is remembered ; and were it otherwise, the air 

 could have no access, first, because of the excessive rare- 

 faction, and in the next place as I suspect on account ol 

 the volatilization of the carbon forming about it a circum- 

 ambient atmosphere.* This last mentioned impression arose 

 from observing, that when the experimeat was performed 

 in vacuo, there was a lively scintillation, as if the carbon in 

 an aeriform state acted as a supporter of combustion on the 

 metal. 



A wnre of platina (No. 16) was fused into a globule on 

 being connected with the positive pole, and brought into 

 contact with a piece of pure hydrate of potash, situated on 

 a silver tray in connexion with the other pole: The potash 

 became red hot, and was deflagrated rapidly with a flame 

 having the rosy hue of potassuretted hydrogen. 



The great apparatus of the Royal Institution, in projectile 

 poiver was from six to eight times more potent than mine. 

 It produced a discharge between charcoal points when re- 

 moved about four inches apart, whereas mine will not pro- 

 duce a jet at more than three fourths of an inch. But that 

 series was two thousand, mine only about a twenty-fifth part 

 as large. 



A steel wire of about one tenth of an inch in diameter, 

 affixed to the negative pole, was passed up through the axis 

 of an open necked inverted bell glass, filled with water. A 

 platina wire. No. 16, attached to a positive pole being pass- 

 ed down to the steel wire, both were fused together, and 

 cooling, could not be separated by manual force. Immedi- 

 ately after this incorporation of their extremities, the platina 

 wire became incandescent for a space of some inches above 

 the surface of the water. 



