ON GALVANISM AND ELECTRICITY. ] gy 



to which light must transform itself to be able to unite with 



their bases. The nature of this power is farther confirmed 



by that which is requisite to disengage permanent aeriform 



combinations. 



In the compositions and decompositions of substances by assists in the 



one another, it acts sometimes by concurrent at others bv com P oslti °nor 

 ,. ._,. ri^ • • -i ^, decomposition 



disposing affinity. In the first case it unites with one of the of substances 



principles of the substance, which principle must always be b y a concur- 

 a base of a permanent gas; and in the second it merely fa- disposing affi- 

 vours the action of a second principle by acting as heat. nit y : 

 Thus it occasions the oxidation of metals by water, by con- 

 verting the hidrogen into gas, &c. ; and calls into action the 

 affinities of all substances in the same manner as caloric, by 

 diminishing their attraction of cohesion, or dissolving them. 



It is as caloric too, that it effects direct combinations, such as heat effects 



as those of the bases of water, &c. dir f ecl corabU 



nations: 



It decomposes, and that particularly in the current of the decomposes 

 pile, certain insulated substances, on the principles of which substances 

 it exerts no attraction but that of conveying with different a^ng^",^. 

 velocities. This action, I confess, is singular, and supposes ments with dif- 

 in the fluid a great attraction of adhesion to the principles t ^? tveocl " 

 of these substances, as it can muke them follow the rapidity 

 of its translatory movement. The decompositions of salts 

 with indecomposable acids and bases particularly take place 

 in this way. I have remarked, that this action is scarcely 

 at all exerted by the pile, when the communication is esta- 

 blished by means of thick wires, or other substances with 

 an extensive surface. 



To effect combinations that require a red heat, as most effects some 



combinations, &c, the fluid should be made to pass through combinations 

 „ . it- . ,~ , °y concentra- 



a stratum or air, in order that it may concentrate itself suf- ting itself into 



ficiently to force this passage through a medium, which re- tne state °* 



i t ,i i i- i • light and heat: 



fuses it as a nonconductor, and thus establish itself in the 



state of light and heat. Thus it is in quality of these two 

 modifications of caloric, that it produces inflammations, &c. 

 The presence of light appears to be necessary in these ope- 

 rations, to impart the luminous constitution to the eiectri- 

 form caloric, which converts the oxigen into gas. 



It appears, that, every time the electric fluid no longer 8nd ; n part is . 



finds occasion to exercise its attraction of adhesion and ex- sumes the state 



of light, unieit 

 pansion 6 ' 



