108 Mr. H. Wilde's Experimental Researches 



the water in the pool and in the trough for the purpose of in- 

 creasing the conductivity of the water, and thereby facilitating 

 the discharge of the electromotor into the earth. 



200. When contact with the electromotor was made in such a 

 manner that the platinum termination of the conductor H formed 

 a positive electrode, 0*36 of a cubic inch of oxygen was generated 

 in the eudiometer in one minute. 



201. On reversing the polar connexions at the electromotor, 

 so that the platinum should now form a negative electrode, 0*73 

 of a cubic inch of hydrogen was generated in the eudiometer in 

 one minute. 



202. A large platinum plate was now substituted for the small 

 strip of platinum at the extremity of the conductor H, and the 

 eudiometer-tube was replaced by a glass jar, into which the pla- 

 tinum plate was introduced. 



203. On transmitting the current from the machine into the 

 earth so that the platinum plate formed a positive electrode, the 

 magnitude of the current was sufficient to melt 3 feet of iron 

 wire "035 of an inch in diameter at N, and to generate, in six 

 minutes, 20 cubic inches of oxygen, which represent the trans- 

 mutation of 6*92 grains of water into the same number of grains 

 of gaseous oxygen at the ordinary atmospheric pressure and 

 temperature. 



201. On reversing the polar connexions, so that the platinum 

 now formed a negative electrode, 20 cubic inches of hydrogen 

 were generated in three minutes, which volume of gas repre- 

 sents the transmutation of 0*43 of a grain of water into the 

 same weight of gaseous hydrogen. 



205. These experiments, besides exhibiting in the most stri- 

 king manner the electrolyzation of water when in contact with the 

 terrestrial bed, also show, by the volumes of oxygen and hydro- 

 gen generated in equal times, and by the times occupied in the 

 evolution of constant volumes, that these gases were evolved at 

 the electrodes in the proportions in which they enter into com- 

 bination to form water. 



206. In order that no reasonable doubt may be entertained 

 that the oxygen or hydrogen evolved from the electrode in the 

 pool had no relation whatever to the oxygen or hydrogen libe- 

 rated on the surface of the conductor extended in the canal, I 

 will just add another observation to those already made in proof 

 of the independent action of the electrodes when plunged into 

 masses of liquid of planetary dimensions. In the summer of 

 1861 I had the good fortune to witness, near Manchester, the 

 effects of a discharge of lightning on a piece of copper wire 

 which had been used by my direction for the purpose of esta- 

 blishing a connexion between aline of telegraph and the signal- 



