54' C>^' GALVANISM. 



'Facts and ub- '^ ''^^ there is fin acid similar to the marine in the Galvanic 

 -«ei-\-ations in fluid, appears from the zinc wire, when it is silver, having 



fxp!;i nation of , . 111 1 ■ 1 1 



the theory of some luna cornea upon it, even though the water that is placed 



Galvanism. between the wires is pure distilled water. 



The action of the pile seems to be from two causes ; the 

 first, from two metals being united, which have different satu- 

 rations of the electric fluid ; therefore, by being united, the 

 saturation of each is distmbed, producing a motion in the 

 fluid, and the pile Iteing formed of water in the discs, the 

 ■water being not so good a conductor of the Galvanic fluid, 

 there is an obstruction which makes an accumulation, and i^ 

 accumulates to such a pitch, as to overcome the obblruction, 

 and then, when it is overcome, there is a strong current pro- 

 ikrced like a river's obstruction, producing streams. But then 

 the principle of the electric fluid being so repcllant, the par- 

 ticles, when accumulated, repel each other with such power^ 

 as to give great velocity to its motion. It has this great re- 

 pellnnt power, that it can tear buildings to pieces, when its 

 passage is obstructed, aiding its velocity and power. 



I am now describing the simple pile, with nothing but pure 

 water and pure metals ; but there is also a calcination of the 

 ainc metal, particularly when active bodies are placed in the 

 tliscs, which actively calcines the zinc metal, and by that 

 means sets a quantity of its electric fire free. The fact that 

 you mention, Mr. Nicholson, that metals by having the elec- 

 tric fluid pass through them become lighter, must add strength 

 to my opinion, that it is the combustible part of them, which 

 the electric fluid receives from them ; for if you will chemi- 

 cally examine the metals after the process, they will be found 

 to have lost this natter. 



I hope I have given a regular chain of facts, which it will 

 be found difficult to misconstiue; I shall not examine this 

 doctrine, by an extensive examination of a variety of diffe- 

 rent facts, it being too wide a field for your journal 5 but jus_t 

 take those which appeared in your last number, and see whe« 

 ther they are explained by the French theory, in that simple 

 and easy manner, as my explanations are made ; doing it in a 

 cursory way, for fear of making my paper too long. I shall 

 first notice Mr. Northmore's additional experiments, which I 

 %injk very valuable, and likely to be aiding u) ehicidating the 



truth* 



