[ 50 ] 
ble Degree; if one End thereof was in Contad with 
the external Surface of this Phial, and the other End 
upon the Explofion touched either the cledrified 
Gun-barrel, to which the Phial in charging was 
ufually conneded, or the iron Hook always^fitted 
therein. 1 his Circuit, where the non-eledric Sub- 
fiances, which happen to be between the Outfide of 
*ne Phial and its Hook, conduct Eledricity equally 
fell, is always defcribed in the fhortefl manner pof- 
fible ; but^ if they condud differently, this Circuit 
is always formed through the beft Condudor, how 
great foever its Length is, rather than through one 
which conduds not fo well, though of much lefs 
Extent. 
It has been found, that in proportion as Bodies are 
fufceptible of having Eledricity excited in them by 
Pridion, in that Proportion they are lefs fit to con- 
dud it to other Bodies; in confequence whereof, of 
all the Subftances we are acquainted with, Metals 
condud bed the electrical Powers ; for which Rea- 
fon the Circuit before fpoken of is formed through 
them the mod readily. Water likewife is an ad- 
mirable Conductor ; for the electrical Power makes 
no Difference between Solids and Fluids as fuch 
but only as they are non-electric Matter. 
In order to give an Idea of what is underftood 
by this Circuit, we will mention an Example or 
two, from which all the other may naturally be de- 
duced. If a Perfon (lands upon a dry wooden Floor 
with a coated Phial ever fo highly charged in one of 
tys Hands, and if another Perfon, without touch- 
ing the firft, (lands but fix Inches from him, and 
touches the iron Hook of the Phial, neither of them 
2 are 
