27 
chemical Agencies of Electricity. 
I made several experiments on the transition of alkaline 
and acid matter through different neutrosaline solutions, and 
the results were such as might well have been anticipated. 
When solution of muriate of barytes was negative, solution 
of sulphate of potash intermediate, and pure water positive, the 
power being from 150, sulphuric acid appeared in about five 
minutes in the distilled water ; and in two hours the muriatic 
acid was likewise very evident. When solution of sulphate of 
potash was positive, solution of muriate of barytes interme- 
diate, and distilled water negative, the barytes appeared in 
the water in a few minutes ; the potash from the more remote 
part of the chain was nearly an hour in accumulating, so as 
to be sensible. 
When the solution of muriate of barytes was positive, the 
solution of sulphate of potash intermediate, and distilled w^ter 
negative, the potash soon appeared in the distilled water ; a 
copious precipitation of sulphate of barytes formed in the 
middle vessel ; but after ten hours no barytes had passed into 
the water. 
When solution of sulphate of silver was interposed between 
solution of muriate of barytes on the negative side, and pure water 
on the positive side, sulphuric acid alone passed into the distilled 
water ; and there was a copious precipitation in the solution of 
sulphate of silver. This process was carried on for ten hours. 
I tried several of these experiments of transition upon ve- 
getable and animal substances with perfect success. 
The saline matter exposed in contact with the metal, and 
that existing in the vegetable or animal substances, both 
underwent decomposition and transfer; and the time of the 
appearance of the different products at the extremities of 
tne circuit was governed by the degree of their vicinity. 
E 2 
