[ 74i ] 
this Man’s electrical Fire : Therefore I conceive, 
that, as foon as this Man has parted with any Por- 
tion of his neceffary, his determined Quantity, to 
the Gun-barrel by the Motion of the Globes, he 
has it reftored to him upon any un-excited Non- 
electric’s touching the Gun-barrel, by having the 
ufual Courfe of the Electricity * inverted. 
63. We fee, from many Experiments, that dry 
Wood does not conduct Electricity fo well as that 
which is wet 5 and that the Man handing upon the 
Floor, who rubs the Globes, excites the Electricity 
ftronger than the Cufhions. This I had Reafon to 
conceive was owing not to any other Difference, 
than that of his being more moift, and, of Confe- 
quence, more readily conducting the Electricity 
from the Floor. Therefore I order’d my Machine, 
and even the Cufhions to be made damp, by caufing 
wet Cloths to be placed upon feveral Parts thereof 5 
and found then, that the Electricity was equally 
ftrong, as when the Globe was rubbed by the Hand. 
64. It remains now, that I endeavour to lay be- 
fore you a Solutiou why our Bodies are fo fhocked 
in the Experiments with the electrified Water 3 the 
Difficulty thereof 1 confefs feemed unfurmountable, 
until 1 had made the following Difcoveries. 
1. That the Electricity always defcribed a Circuit 
between the electrified Water and the Gun-barrel. 
2. That the electrical Fire came from the Floor 
of the Room. 
3. That it would not pafs from the Floor quick 
enough for the Perfon to be (hook, if his Shoes 
were dry. 4. 
* For a further Account of this Matter, fee Philo j, \ Pranfatt* 
VoL XLV. p. ioi» 
