Prof, von Bezold's Researches on the Electrical Discharge. 43 



andB) are placed upon the upper uncoated surface, one of which 

 is connected with the source of electricity Q (fig. 1), and the 

 other by a wire E with the 

 earth, at each discharge a Fig. 1. 



positive and a negative fi- 

 gure will be simultaneously 

 formed. 



These experiments teach 

 that a positive [negative) fi- 

 gure is obtained when either 

 positive {negative) electricity 

 is added, or negative (positive) taken away. 



§ 1. This being premised, the above-mentioned experiments 

 shall now be described. One of the first was made according to 

 the following scheme (fig. 2). From the positive conductor of 



Fig. 2. 



GO 



o F o= 



an electrieal machine a wire was led to one knob of a spark- 

 micrometer F. From the other knob two wires conducted, 

 one (E) directly to the earth, the other (D) to the conductor A. 

 The lower coating of the plate was also connected with the earth 

 by means of the wire E'. In my opinion, two kinds of results 

 were by this means to be expected. For it was conceivable that 

 either no figure at all would be formed upon the plate, and the 

 whole of the electricity would be immediately conveyed to the 

 earth by the good conducting-wire, or that at most a small part 

 would reach the plate and then again pass back through E to 

 the earth. I therefore expected either no figure at all, or a small 

 positive compound figure — that is, a yellow star with a red spot. 



The result was nevertheless the exact opposite. A figure 

 was formed ; it was not positive, however, but negative, a red irre- 

 gular jagged ring with a yellow radiating centre. 



Hence the discharge had not only not divided at the two 

 branches, but the electricity, flowing to the earth in the shortest 

 way through E, took with it electricity of the same kind from 

 the branch A E'. 



Not only the very surprising nature of the experiment, but 



