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XI. On a New Reaction between Electrostatic Tubes and 

 Insulators, and on the Electrostatic Field round an Electric 

 Current, and the Theory of Professor Poynting. By 



M. W. DE NlCOLAlEVE*. 



f~\X a new reaction between electrostatic tides and insulators. — 

 This special reaction is observed in the electrostatic 

 field which the author has shown to exist in electrolysis 

 during the passage o£ the current. The tubes of force o£ this 

 field coincide with the lines of current, and so insulating 

 matter which is dielectric for tubes of the ordinary field 

 behaves in an electrolyte like a perfect dia-electric deprived of 

 electric permeability. 



First Experiment. — Place in distilled water a system of 

 two vertical plates perpendicular 

 to a third. AB, fig. 1, all insulat- 

 ing, the horizontal section having 

 an H-form. In the compartments 

 formed by this plate immerse two 

 strips of tin 15 to 20 cms. long with 

 horizontal sections represented by 

 K and L. When the strips are 

 connected up to a source of cur- 

 rent they diverge under the influ- 

 ence of tubes of the kind represented by K D B C L, as repre- 

 sented in elevation in fig. 2. If they are connected up to the 



Fig. 2. 



Fur, 1. 



terminals of a 300-volt transformer their extremities are dis- 

 placed as much as 20 mms. outwards. The set of tubes like 

 K D B C L can only exist through the action of the diaphragm 



* From the Comptes Bendus, 30th December, 1901, and 6th January, 

 1902, with some additions by the Author. Communicated by Prof. J. II. 

 Poynting. 



