NEW CLASSES OF GALVANIC CONDUCTORS. g^ { 



to communicate with the ground. If we afterward touch 

 the positive pole, the electrometer immersed in the flame 

 immediately loses all its divergence. Lastly, if a communi- 

 cation be established between the ground and the flame it- 

 self, both the electrometer in contact with it, and that ap- 

 plied to the positive pole, are discharged, while that on the 

 negative side attains the highest degree of divergence. These 

 effects are completely explicable, on the supposition that the 

 negative pole is insulated in the flame, while to the positive 

 it is a conductor. 



What renders this absolute insulation of the negative pole Flame gires 

 by a conducting substance still more paradoxical is the out P ositive 

 very intimate relation the flame bears to positive electricity, distance of if 

 In fact, to take from this pole the divergence that has been or 2 feet P er " 

 given to it, it is not necessary actually to touch the flame; pe " lcuari * 

 it is sufficient to bring over it, at the distance of a foot and 

 half, or even two feet, a metallic conductor communi- 

 cating with the ground ; when the positive electrometer will 

 immediately arrive at zero, and that of the negative at the 

 maximum of electric intensity. In like manner an electro- 

 meter, the hook of which is held at a similar distance above 

 the flame in which the two polar wires of a powerful pile" 

 terminate, will very readily become charged with positive 

 electricity, when a communication is made between the 

 ground and the negative side, and will be discharged on 

 touching either the flame, or the pole of which that flame so 

 eminently propagates the effect. This action of the flame and to a few 

 extends laterally also, but by no means with equal energy, mches . llor >zon- 

 for in this direction it is confined to a few inches. 



All the indications by the electrometer, that have been Flame does 

 related, prove, that the galvanic circle is not completed by n , ot completa 



. . „ \ „ , • i the galvanic 



the intervention ot the flame; and experience long ago circle, 



showed, that the decomposition of water did not take place, 



and the physiological effects of the pile were not manifested, 



when the exciting arc was interrupted by the interposition of 



flame. Reflecting, however, on the faculty flame has of yet moreen- 



conducting the electricity of each pole separately, and insu- r f y effccls on 

 a . . ," '" . the nerves may 



lating only the negative effect, it appeared to me possible, be produced 



to obtain some momentary effects on animals, by discharging tnrou S' 1 lt .« 



at once into the ground the two poles united by the flame, 



and 



