ON GALVANIC PHENOMENA, Qjg 



We have a method of comparing the electrical state of Electricity of 

 the stratum of air near the ground with that of the strata {Jg ground and 

 higher up, in which we can elevate a conductor; the com- higherupmay 

 parative point of which, or the standard of positive and be «>mpared. 

 negative, is the electrical state of the ground ; whereas, we 

 have no such point of comparison within the stratum near 

 the ground, in which our experiments are made; as the 

 latter influences too much the state of the air near it; how- 

 ever I have observed changes in the electrical state of this Changes in the 

 lower stratum in the following manner. Having employed ll^discover? 

 columns of many hundred groups, the gold leaves not only able. 

 diverged very strongly, but they struck the tinfoils, fell, 

 as being discharged, then rose and struck again. Now, 

 the number of these alternate motions, in a given time, 

 differ so much in different days, that I have seen sometimes 

 60 strikingsin a minute, while at other times there was not 

 even one in the same interval. This, as I have said and 

 constantly observed, not having any connection with the 

 changes of either heat or moisture, depends very probably 

 on changes in the electrical state of the ambient air. 



But let us fix our attention on the motions of the gold Standard of 

 leaves in the electrometer, in order to understand the j n . positive and 

 fluence of the state of the air on the apparatus. On this tricity disco-" 

 essential point, Sig. \ r olta has made a very important step veredbyVolta. 

 in electricity, which has removed the difficulties, till then 

 insurmountable, in Dr. Franklin's system of positive and 

 negative, without reference to any known standard. But 

 Sig. Volta has first proved, that the particles of air possess 

 theelectric fluid aswell as other bodies; and that the electrical 

 state of the air in the place of observation is the standard of 

 positive and negative with respect to the electrometer* 

 Therefore, the motions of gold leaves indicate only the actual 

 electrical state of the air which environs the instrument. 

 It is impossible however to follow, in its phenomena, all 

 the effects of the electric fiuid, without a determination of 

 its nature, which Dr. Maycock considers as unnecessary. I 

 have given that determination in the same paper above 

 mentioned, beginning at p. 254; but the phenomena on 

 which it is founded are so numerous, that even in that paper 

 I could only give a short account of them, referring to my 



works 



