826 



NEW GLASSES OF GALVANIC CONDUCTORS. 



combustion exhibit the phenomenon of negative insulation. 

 It is natural too, that this oil-forming combination should 

 be produced at the negative or hidrogenating pole, and not 

 at the positive, where, on account of the oxidation that 

 takes place, water and carbonic acid must rather be form- 

 ed. Do not the fuliginous ramifications, that expand much 

 more abundantly from the negative pole, owe their existence 

 to this oleification, which detains them, renders them more 

 compact, and feeds them by a continually renewed com- 

 bustion ; while on the positive side the more perfect oxida- 

 tion causes them to disappear in gas and vapour, before 

 they have been able to expand themselves ? 

 Reasons why This specious hypothesis involves the fo!J owing difficul- 



the cause. ties. The flame of the purest hidrogen gas insulates the ne- 



gative effect. Now where shall we find in this the carbon 

 necessary for the formation of oil ? On inspecting a thou- 

 sand times, even Avith a microscope, the negative and posi- 

 tive wires perfectly cleaned, and kept a long time in the 

 flame of alcohol, I never could perceive the least difference 

 between their extremities. Besides, on bringing together 

 with the greatest possible dexterity the positive and negative 

 wires in the flame itself, a spark is constantly perceptible. 

 Farther, both the electrometers and apparatus for decom- 

 posing water show, that, the moment any filaments of the 

 arborescent soot extend from one wire to the other, the 

 galvanic circuit is completed ; which would be impossible, 

 if the negative wire were rendered impermeable to the elec- 

 tric fluid by any non conducting coating. Lastly, hovr 

 can it be supposed, that such an insulating coat should be 

 formed in a single instant orer all the surface of a disk of 

 several inches, held two feet above the flame ? The cause 

 of the phenomenon then, which all these facts have placed 

 before us, is not so superficial, as the hypothesis supposes. 

 Hypothesis, The following is an analogous hypothesis, which likewise 



rafedat the po- I h a( * formed respecting the mode of action of soap in insu- 

 sitive pole ab- lating the positive effects. The positive wire of the pile is 

 stracts the alka- ,, , . „ ,. ,, .. * i» a j.- 



li of the soap the seat of oxigenation, as the negative is ot nidrogenation. 



and then leaves jf then the alkali of the soap be neutralized by the contact 

 a coat or oil. ^ ^ ad(lif y mg wirCj the ^ or fat> wiH be set at liberty, 



and thus insulate the positive pole, the conductor of which 



it 



