368 Researches in Magnetic Electiidty. 



tual neutralizing influence of the individual magnets of a similar 

 polar arrangement. This last, is by far the most important con- 

 sideration. The following experiments, throwing light on this 

 point, will be regarded as novel, and have an important bearing 

 on the subject of magnetism itself. 



Take a piece of fine iron wire, carefully annealed, three or four 

 inches in length, and touch it once with a common steel magnet. 

 Being very soft, it yields readily to the inductive influence, and as 

 its length is very great, compared with its breadth, if carefully 

 handled, it will be found to retain sufficient power to hold more 

 than its own weight. Hold it now by one end and snap the 

 other with thumb and finger, and its magnetism will be instantly 

 lost. The same quality of the iron which favored the extensive 

 development of magnetism, favored also its neutralization on the 

 disturbance of molecular forces. The transition here was so sud- 

 den and decided, that I was led to try the influence of a magnet 

 thus operated upon, in developing electricity. A long piece of 

 iron wire, retaining considerable magnetic power, was suspended 

 so as to vibrate freely in a spiral of copper wire. A smart rap 

 upon the suspended iron wire, determined a strong galvanic cur- 

 rent through the copper spiral, as indicated by the galvanometer. 

 The result, though readily anticipated, was nevertheless very stri- 

 king. Again, take a number of pieces of fine iron wire, and mag- 

 netize them separately, so that each by itself will hold its own 

 weight ,• combine them now in a bundle, and instead of the ag- 

 gregate lifting power of the elements, you scarcely realize the 

 power of one of those elements, owing to the neutralizing influ- 

 ence of the similar poles. It is the co-operating, neutralizing ef- 

 fort of similar poles, that chiefl37" determines the superior value 

 of the compound electro-magnet for magnetic electrical experi- 

 ments. The fact that very fine steel wires answer almost as well 

 for these magnets as wires of soft iron, strongly corroborates this 

 last position. For the knowledge of this curious fact I am indebted 

 to Mr. Daniel Davis, philosophical instrument maker, of Boston. 

 A. bundle of fine steel wires when wound, give a bright spark 

 and strong shock, whereas the same amount of steel in a solid bar, 

 produces a hardly perceptible augmentation. 



2. New Magnetic Electrical Machine, or Magneto- Electric 

 Multiplier, convertible into an Electro- Magnetic Engine. — In or" 

 der that this machine may be readily comprehended, it will be 



