Description of a Magnetic Electrical Machine. = 217 
MN, put the two pieces of iron wire with an end of each in its 
place; put the other ends of them into two holes that are in the 
sides of the battery A; let the wires be sufficiently long to allow the 
armature to rotate between them. If one wetted finger is placed on 
the brass stem that carries the break H, and another wetted finger is. 
placed on the magnetic battery, the shock will be also felt. While 
the machine is so arranged, if you look between the face of the rota- 
ting armature and the magnetic battery, vivid flashes of light will be 
perceived playing between both. ‘This light may also be frequently 
seen without the wires being in connexion with the battery. Some- 
times it will be observed flashing between the coils F G. 
To decompose Water, &c. &c. 
Fig. 2. E.M. Clarke’s arrangement of 
the decomposition of water apparatus, (see 
Phil. Mag. for June, 1835.) A, a glass 
vessel, having a brass cap with hard wood 
bottom through which two pieces of copper 
wire pass, having pieces of platina wire sol- 
dered to them ; place this in M, N; fill the 
tube B, with water,* thrust it over the platina 
wires where it will be held by the cork C. 
Q must rub on the cylindrical part of the 
break H. Here the gases are obtained mixed. 
Fig. 3. E.M. Clarke’s arrangement of 
the apparatus for obtaining the elements of 
water in separate vessels, or unmixed. A, 
a glass vessel having two glass tubes; here 
the platina wires are soldered to two pieces 
of copper wire, as in my other arrangement, 
machine and the galvanic apparatus; at the same time that it does not labor under 
the disadvantages of either; for as has already been stated, it is not affected, like 
the former, by a moist condition of the atmosphere, nor, like the latter, is it neces- 
sary to make use of any acids; nay, since the improvement has been eiucied 
which is alluded to in the text, even the use of mercury is superseded. 
* The advantages of this arrangement are obvious to any one who has been 
teased with bits of platina wires made to pass through small holes drilled ina 
glass vessel having loops turned on the projecting ends, and contact is obtained by 
merely placing the connecting wire in the loop: it was not only a bad connexion, 
but in nine cases out of ten the cement that is used to fasten in the platina wires, 
gave way, just as you were going to use the apparatus, as has frequently happened 
at lectures, 
