52 



^4 n )i i versa ni Mee tin g . 



[Nov. SO, 



The following, are the actual resolutions adopted by the Inter- 

 national Congress of Electricians at the sitting of September 22nd, 

 1881:— 



1. For electrical measurements, the fundamental units, the centi- 

 metre (for length), the gramme t^for mass), and the second (for time), 

 are adopted. 



•2. The Ohm and the Volt (for practical measures of resistance and 

 of electromotive force or potential) are to keep their existing defini- 

 tions, 10 9 for the Ohm, and 10 s for the Volt. 



3. The Ohm is to be represented by a column of mercury of a 

 square millimetre section at the temperature of zero Centigrade. 



4. An international commission is to be appointed to determine, for 

 practical purposes, by fresh experiments, the length of a column of 

 mercury of a square millimetre section which is to represent the Ohm. 



•5. The current produced by a Volt through an Ohm is to be called 

 an Ampere. 



6. The quantity of electricity given by an Ampere in a second is to 

 be called a Coulomb. 



7. The capacity denned by the condition that a Coulomb charges 

 it to the potential of a Volt is to be called a Farad. 



The remainder of the work of the Congress consisted mainly of the 

 discuss : on of various interesting questions bearing upon electricity; 

 and although these did not in many cases issue in precise recommend* 

 ations, yet they were not altogether devoid of practical results. The 

 questions wh'ch ehierly attracted its attention were those of terres- 

 trial magnetism and earth -currents, atmospheric electricity, and the 

 more practical but perplexing questiou of lightning conductors. In 

 all these matters the need of close and continuous intercourse between 

 the observers of oiiterent nations was strongly felt: and the Congress 

 passed resolutions recommending combined action both in the way of 

 observations carried on simultaneously and with like apparatus, and 

 also of frequent if not continuous telegraphic communication of the 

 results of these observations. The organisation of so extensive and 

 perhaps so costly a system of combined observations must depend to 

 a great extent on the various Governments, and also on the goodwill 

 and generosity of the ereat telegraphic companies : but it is much to 

 be wished for the sake of science, that some progress in that direction 

 may soon be effected. The present state and prospects of electro- 

 physiology also received careful discussion, but the difficulties of the 

 subject precluded any definite conclusions. The same was the case 

 with the question of photometry as applied to the intense light with 

 which electricity furnishes us. Resolutions recommending the adop- 

 tion of certain provisional photometric standards were passed: bat 

 these only evidenced the strong feeling that prevailed in the Congress, 

 that some new departure must be made, and that a new standard 



