86 
ELECTRIC COLUMN OF 20,000 PLATES. 
the opposite series was produced by a fine iron wire, separated from actual 
con ^ act by a slight layer of varnish ; a succession of small 
bright sparks were thus produced, they were most apparent 
when the point of the w ire was drawn lightly over the varnished 
surface. 
A thin jar of A very thin coated jar being interposed between the opposite 
fnctas^gave a enc ^ s ^ ie c °l Limn > it instantly received a charge, which, by 
considerable continuing the contact, progressively increased, and in ten 
shock. minutes became so powerful as to convey a disagreeable shock, 
felt sensibly in the shoulders, and by some individuals across 
the breast. 
Paper was 
perforated. 
Battery. 
The single jar 
fused one inch 
.of very thin 
platina wire. 
The electrical 
power has not 
dir pushed in 
five weeks, 
though it has 
varied. 
No chemical 
effect has been 
produced by 
this column. 
< olumns of 
this descrip- 
tion have con- 
tinued in undi- 
Jars of progressively increased thickness and of various sizes, 
were charged in the same way, and apparently to similar inten- 
sity $ but none of the charges thus produced had sufficient 
power to perforate a card ; thick drawing paper was the greatest 
resistance the most powerful of them could overcome. Several 
jars, connected as a battery, were charged in the same way as a 
single jar, but much longer time was necessary ; the effect of 
the shock, and its power of perforation, were not greater than 
with a single jar. 
The thin jar first mentioned, (which contains about SO square 
inches of coated surface,) when charged by 10 minutes contact 
with the column, just fused one inch of platina wire, - 3 ~oVo of 
an inch diameter. The same effect could not be produced by 
thicker jars of the same size. 
The electrical power of the column has not diminished by 
five weeks constant activity, though, during that perie*d, its in- 
tensity has frequently varied ; in some instances its power has 
been sufficient to produce (though faintly) the configurations of 
Lichtenberg. 
Various saline compounds, tinged with the most delicate 
vegetable colours, have been made the medium of communica- 
tion between its extremities, and the contact preserved for 
many days ; similar experiments have been made with metallic 
solutions, but in none of these trials has the slightest trace of any 
chemical effect appeared. 
The cause of electric excitement in the column appears to be 
permanent. I have some that have now been constructed up- 
wards of two years, and their power is in no way diminished ; in 
cases 
