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X. Various Experiments on the Force of 
EleSirical Explofons, By Jofeph Prieftley, 
LL.D. RR.S. 
Read March 2, A/f' AKING the explofion of a bat- 
1769- jLtX pafs over the furface of a 
green cabbage-leaf, I obferved that it left a track near 
±th of an inch in breadth, exceedingly well defined, 
and diftinguifhable by a difference of colour from the 
reft of the leaf. Along this path, alfo, the firmnefs 
of texture in the leaf was entirely deftroyed, that part 
becoming quite flexible, like a piece of cloth. Pre- 
fently after, it turned yellow, grew withered, and be- 
came perfedly brittle. 
Willing to try the eftedt of this explofion pafllng 
along the furface of other fubftances, I laid a piece of 
common window-glafs on the path, preffed by a 
weight of fix ounces j but it was fl^attered to pieces, 
and totally difperfed, together with the leaf on which 
it la3^ Placing the black fide of a piece of cork- 
wood upon it, prefled by a weight of half a pound, 
the leaf was not rent, but the cork was furrowed all 
the way, a trench being made in it about half an 
inch in breadth, and a quarter of an inch in depth. 
Laying the fmooth cut furface of the piece of cork, it 
was furrowed all the way, as if it had been cut with 
a file, but not near fo deep as before. Many of the 
fmall pieces, vvhich had been rubbed off in the ex- 
plofion. 
