in his mind, Faraday never cared to a further on the 
source of electricity in the voltaic pile. The argument a 
to him “to remove the foundation itself of the contact theory,” 
and he afterwards let it crumble down in peace.* 
Researches on Frictional Electricity: Induction: Conduction: Specific 
Inductive Capacity: Theory of Contiguous Particles, 
tory of science parti 
- ee contributed by Faraday in that year was a compar- 
portan P 
Voltaic Battery.” He brooded for a time : his experiments on 
lysis had long filled his mind ; he looked, as already 
stated, into the very heart of-the electrolyte, eesoagirne, B~ 
render play of its atoms visible to his mental eye. He 
a that in this case what is called “the electric rian 
propagated from particle to particle of the electrolyte ; he 
accepted the doctrine of decomposition and recomposition which, 
to Grothuss and Davy, ran from electrode to electrode. 
And the thought impressed him more and more that ordi 
‘trie induction was also transmitted and sustained by the 
action of “ conti particles.” 
His first great paper on frictional electricity was sent to the 
rd Society on the 30th of November, 1837. We here find 
his with an idea which beset his mind throughout 
Whole subsequent life,—the idea of action at a distance. It 
* Toaccount for the electric current, which was really the core of the whole 
inna Faraday demonstrated the impotence of the contact th then 
brought into contact, ew atigs aa gage positive and the prin 
i i with Kohlrausch 
mena of the circuit. z 
Was the first to give the contact theory this new form, in his celebrated 
