C H® ] 
VII. Experiments and Observations , made with the View of 
ascertaining the Nature of the Gaz produced by passing Electric 
Discharges through Water. By George Pearson, M. D. F. R. S. 
Read February 2, 1797. 
§i- 
In the Journal de Physique for the month of November, 1789, 
were published the very curious and interesting experiments of 
Messrs. Paets van Troostwyk and Deiman; which were 
made with the assistance of Mr. Cuthbertson ; on the appa- 
rent decomposition of water by electric discharges. 
The apparatus employed was a tube 12 inches in length, 
and its bore was £ of an inch in diameter, English measure ; 
which was hermetically sealed at one end, but before it was 
sealed, 1 \ inch of gold or platina wire was introduced within 
the tube, and fixed into the closed end by melting the glass 
around the extremity of the wire. Another wire of platina, 
or of gold with platina w're at its extremity, immersed in 
quicksilver, was introduced at the open end of the tubs, which 
extended to within -§- of an inch of the upper wire, which, as 
was just said, was fixed into the sealed extremity. 
The tube was filled with distilled water, which had been 
freed from air by means of Cuthbertson’s last improved air 
pump, of the greatest rarefying power. As the open end of 
the tube was immersed in quicksilver, a little common air was 
