324? NEW CLASSES OF GALTANIC CONDUCTORS. 



if the side next moisten that surface of the soap, which is in contact with 



Netted it is the the silver, and again establish a communication between the 



same: two poles: still it will be the same. But the moment that 



if the side next ,, . . , , , , , 



the zinc be ™ e soa P IS moistened on the side that touches the zinc, the 



wetted the pile chemical and physiological effects will exhibit themselves 



acts effectually. . „ _ . l ■- 



The zinc there- fnlly. riow as we have already found, that a wet conduc- 



foreis in the tor is efficacious between the soap and the positive side ex- 

 clusively, it is demonstrated beyond controversy, that it is 

 the zinc, and not the silver, which constitutes the positive 

 agent in the pile. 



I know not at present what other substances belong 

 to our fifth class. It appeared above, that the flame of 

 phosphorus must decidedly be referred to it. Frequently I 

 Animal ielTy have seen indications of the same property in animal jelly 

 and ivory have reduced to a certain degree of dryness, as well as in ivory : 

 pearedTo b>e- P but other masses of these substances exhibited these phc- 

 long to this nomena in a very equivocal manner, so that I refrain from 

 deciding upon them, and at present shall only mention soap 

 and the flame of phosphorus as included in this class. 

 Many supposed It would be interesting to examine, with a view to this 

 might'be^xa- 5 classification, a great number of substances, which have 

 mined. been considered as nonconductors, because the galvanic 



circuit is not completed by their .interposition : but it is 

 now completely proved, that this test is insufficient; and the 

 argument in favour of the nonidentity of galvanism and 

 electricity, taken from the mode of action of flame, shows 

 that errours of this kind may prove dangerous to the 

 theory. 

 Why is ke a The field of observation here opened may prove fertile 

 ^er^Mpok'r ' m general results for the chemistry of electricity. By 

 conductor, and what mechanism of action is it, that water, so far divested 

 poneonduaor a ? of cal° ric as to become solid, perfectly insulates the ef- 

 fects of galvanism, as I have elsewhere shown: that after- 

 ward impregnated with a certain quantity of caloric in the 

 liquid state, it transmits these effects with certain modifica- 

 tions, dividing itself into two zones, one of which is a 

 conductor of positive, the other of negative electricity: 

 and that lastly this same water, in passing to the elastic 

 state by an excess of caloric, returns again to the class of 

 perfect nonconductors, as may easily be proved, by re- 

 ceiving 



