J, Trowbridge—Electrical Condition of Gas Flames, 5 
theories in regard to the subject; Becquerel, for instance, finds 
electric opposition in all directions in flames which depend 
upon the difference of the temperature of the metals immersed 
in them. Pouillet recognizes a motion of electricity only from 
the interior to the exterior, and hence also from the base to the 
summit of the flame; Hankel, however, finds a motion the 
reverse of this in the flames produced by the ignition of spirits, 
and states that it is independent of the temperature of the im- 
mersed conductor. 
Prof. Buff then gives the following as the results of his 
investigation : 
1. Gaseous bodies which have been rendered conductible b 
strong heating are capable of exciting other conductors, solid 
as well as gaseous, electrica 
2. When a thermo-electric circuit is formed of air, hydrogen 
or carburetted hydrogen, alcohol vapor, charcoal, or finally a 
metal, whether combustible or incombustible, an electric current 
is developed, which proceeds through the air from the hottest 
place of contact to the less warm place. 
8. The development of electricity which has been observed 
in processes of combustion, and particularly in flames, is due to 
thermo-electric excitation, and stands in no immediate connec- 
tion with the chemical process. 
4. The products of combustion do not therefore, by any 
means, occup the relation to the burning body which has 
n assumed by Pouillet; if positive electricity rises with the 
ascending gases, it is only in the degree in w which the air exterior 
ae the place of hottest contact is “connected by a proper con- 
ucto: 
The following are the results which I have obtained in test- 
ing the ree condition of the flame of a Bunsen burner 
a Sir William Thomson’s quadrant electrometer. The 
pai given er to the arbitrary divisions of the scale, upon 
— a spot of light is reflected from the mirror of the instru- 
on connecting the testing plate of one pair of quadrants 
of tp. instrument with the flame, while the other pair were 
connected with the metallic burner and with- the earth, the 
flame was found to be ehcp: electrifie 
The following are some of the experiments selected from a 
series that were made. 
Exp. 1. Flame 12 c. m. high; Plage at the height of 7 c. m. 
A — indication of 130°, very steady. 
Exp. 2. A platinum wire, su tituted for the plate, and 
mocking the flame 3 c. mt the burner, gave a deflection of 
30° in a negative direc 
Exp. 3. With the testing plate just above the tip of the 
