on Electric Discharges through Water . 155 
gaz was added, and this mixture of gazes being well dried by 
standing over lime and boiled quicksilver, an electric spark 
was passed through it, by which a diminution of ~ of its bulk 
took places A little dew was then seen upon the sides of the 
tube where the quicksilver had risen ; and, with the aid of a 
lens, the same appearance was perceived on the part of the 
tube containing the residue of gaz. 
It may now be expected, that I should have made the experi- 
ments with this apparatus on distilled water freed from its air, 
not only by long boiling, or the air pump, but by passing 
through it several hundred electrical discharges. It would 
also have been, to some persons, more satisfactory, if the ex- 
periments had been made upon a larger scale, so as to have 
produced the combustion of a much larger quantity of gaz, 
and consequently have produced a greater quantity of water. 
As, however, I apprehend, the experiments contained in this 
paper, when well considered, by competent judges, will be 
found to explain the nature of the gaz procured from water by 
electrical discharges ; and as another very important subject 
demands my attention, the honour of more splendid and con- 
vincing experiments must be reserved for other inquirers. If 
the same sacrifices be made by them, which have been made in 
performing the present experiments, I think it is scarcely pos- 
sible but that still further light concerning the composition of 
water should be obtained, as well as concerning oils, alcohol, 
acids, &c. ; to the investigation of the composition of which, 
the mode of analysis and synthesis here indicated, may be 
applied. 
X 2 
