258 Sir David Salomons on the Electric 



joined tip as shown in fig. 21, the connecting-wires being 

 of considerable length. The current traversing the second 



Fig-. 21. 



O C 



^ — c 



2 



tube was again analysed by another large electromagnet ; 

 and it was found that only one type of current existed in each 

 arm of this analysing-tube. Consequently, the current tra- 

 versing the connecting-wires must of necessity have been an 

 intermittent direct current. 



Another double tube was now taken ; but instead of being 

 a vacuum-tube it contained water, the analysing-tube still 

 being a vacuum-tube. The results were the same, although 

 less marked. 



It would therefore appear that we have a magnetic means 

 of converting the alternate current into two currents of a 

 direct intermittent type, which two currents can be coupled 

 up so as to form one intermittent direct current in one direction. 

 So far, 1 have only succeeded in producing this result with 

 very small currents. 



When the ordinary electric spark in air (fig. 22) is placed 



z? 



in a powerful magnetic field and the magnet excited, two 

 additional semicircular displaced discharges appear, as in 

 fig. 23, the colour of these supplementary discharges being of 

 a different tint. 



Fig. 23. 



/ \ 



When the current is reversed, the displacement is reversed, 



as in fig. 24. 



