ntw Electro-chemical Phenomena. 
53 
Sir H. Davy* considers the result of Mn Cuthbertson's 
experiment to depend upon the ufiipolanty of the flame, which 
would render it positive, and cause it to be attracted towards 
the negative pole. 
On perusing these statements, it occurred to me that they 
admitted of another explanation, and that the appearances 
might be connected with the chemical nature of the substances 
employed. I repeated Mr. Cuthbertson's experiment, and 
found that when the electrical machine was in weak action, 
the negative surface not only became hot sooner than the 
positive, but that the smoke and flame of the candle w'ere 
visibly attracted towards it. I now removed the candle, and 
substituted the flame of phosphorus, when the appearances 
were exactly reversed : the positive surface now became con- 
siderably warmer than the negative, and the flame and smoke 
of the phosphorus were powerfully directed upon it. I con- 
ceived, therefore, that the flame of the candle was attracted by 
the negative pole, in consequence of the carbon and hydrogen 
in which it .abounds, and that the rapid formation of acid 
matter during the combustion of the phosphorus, was the 
cause of its attraction towards the positive pole : in short, that 
the appearances were consistent with the known laws of elec- 
tro-chemical attraction. 
To ascertain the correctness of this idea, it became neces- 
sary to examine the phenomena with greater precision, and 
to institute the more extended series of experiments, which, 
with their results, I shall proceed to detail. 
The apparatus employed consisted of two insulated brass 
balls capable of being brought near to, or removed from each 
* Elements of Chem. Philos. Vol. I. p. 177, 
