160 ME. GASSIOT ON THE STEATIEICATIONS IN ELECTEICAL DISCHARGES. 
nary discharge the clond-like character, and the other narrow striee, in the former the 
current, when interrupted through space in air, would pass without stratification, and in 
the latter they would be retained. 
Two tubes were so arranged, one showing the cloud discharge, in the other (filled with 
the vapour of iodine) in which the stratifications are clearly defined but very narrow ; 
by means of my micrometer-electrometer the secondary circuit could be interrupted or 
completed with great precision. When the secondary cmcuit is inteinipted by separa- 
tion with the electrometer to about one-eighth of an inch, the large cloud stratifica- 
tions in the tube disappeared, the discharges passing “ with uniform luminous fiow, as 
described by Mr. Geove ; but no alteration is perceptible in the iodine tube, in which the 
stratifications continue as before, even when the separation extends to half an mch ; it 
is manifest that this result is also irreconcileable with the explanation ofiered by 
Mr. Grove, as, if the alleged feeble current were cut off in one tube, it would be cut 
off in both. 
Clapham Common, 
Fehruary 14, 1859, 
J. P. G. 
