eg ON THE GALVANIC CHARGE, &C, 



XIII. 



Galvanic lllufi rations and Remarks. ByC. Wilkinson, Efq. 



To Mr. NICHOLSON. 

 dear sir, Glafgozu, Dec. 9, 1804. 



On the galvanic H-AVING, during my galvanic tour, been occafionally in- 

 charge, &c formed that the attempt I have made in my Elements of Gal- 

 vanifm, to explain the laws of galvanifm on the more perfect 

 and imperfect conductors, is not fo clear as it was my with to 

 have rendered it; I iliall therefore deem myfelf much obliged 

 by the infertion of the following obfervations in your valuable 

 Journal. 



The power of a galvanic apparatus, formed of plates not 

 Jefs than 2\ inches in diameter, on animal fubftances, is di- 

 rectly as the number of plates ; on the more perfect conduc- 

 tors, as metals, the power is as you have at large ftated in 

 your latt Journal. 



Let us fuppofe three galvanic plates: Fig. 1, (Plate II.) 

 of four inches; Fig. 2, of fix incites $ and Fig. 3, of eight 

 inches : An arrangement of thefe in the form of a galvanic' 

 trough, produces equal effects on animal fubftances, provided 

 the number be equal. 



Animal fubftance is very little fuperior to water in its con- 

 dueling power ; and the experiments of Mr. Cavendifh have 

 proved, that the conducting powers of iron area million times 

 greater than the conducting powers of water. 



A metal brought into contact with another metal difpofed 

 to part with a quantity of its compound electricity, will divide 

 the quantity thus difengaged, becaufe its capacity for receiving 

 it is equal to that of the metal under the chemical adVion. 



Animal fubftance brought into contact with a metal fimi- 

 larly difpofed, will only receive a portion adequate to its ca- 

 pacity ; and as this capacity is in the ratio of its conducting 

 powers, it will be nearly one million times inferior in capacity 

 to that of a metallic fubftance ; and will, therefore, abftract 

 only fo fmall a proportionate part of electricity to render its 

 intenfily equal to that exifting in the galvanic plate, 



B 



