NEW CLASSES OF GALVANIC CONDUCTORS. <££§ 



about twenty seconds, without its being necessary to keep it 

 insulated during this time. In this state it produces a fresh 

 contraction on touching the nerves alone, without requiring 

 the flame to touch the other extremity. This observation 

 has nothing in it of novelty, as there are many analogous 

 facts: yet it is in seme degree interesting, as it facilitates 

 our varying the modes of experimenting. But what induced 

 me to mention it here was, that the success of the experi- 

 ments, in which an insulated and an uninsulated arc are al- 

 ternately employed, depends on this circumstance; and for 

 this reason, in describing these experiments, I mentioned 

 the necessity of allowing a certain time to elapse between 

 each of these comparative applications. 



The facts I have recited incontrovertibly prove, that the Flame of alco- 

 flame of spirit of wine is an excellent conductor for either hel thus shown 

 pole of the pile; but that in connecting the two poles it i en t conductor 



completely insulates the negative side, while it continues to of either elec- 

 » • ! , .. -ni ii tricity singly, 



be eminently conducting for the positive. .But the problem but to insulate 



is still far from being solved : it remains to be "known, what the negative 



i ? . • when employ- 



is the mechanism of the action, on which this singular pro- e d to complete 



perty depends. It would certainly be rash to determine any the circuit, 

 thing respecting facts so new, and deviating so widely from 

 all known analogy: I only mention the following hypothesis, 

 therefore, on account of the interesting facts of which I 

 have obtained a knowledge, taking it as a text for farther 

 researches. 



I had long imagined, that the electric intensity manifested Flame suppos- 

 exclusively at the negative pole by the intervention of the ed in some in- 

 flame might depend on the two opposite properties assigned * ™ eledWfck 

 to it, and in fact distinguished in certain phenomena of ty : m others to 

 common electricity. We conceive we have equally reason coIIect u - 

 to say, that flame dissipates and destroys all electricity, as 

 for instance, when charged plates of glass or resin are pre- 

 sented to it ; and that, in other cases it collects electricity, as 

 when it is applied to the summit of electrometrical points 

 intended for meteorological observations. I thought, there- 

 fore, that something analogous took place here : but the 

 dispersive effect being much superior, the positive pole was 

 constantly discharged by drawing off the excess of the elec- 

 tive fluid, while by this very act the negative side was left 



at 



