MR. DANIELL ON VOLTAIC COMBINATIONS. 
123 
set it to work with the small voltameter. The following Table contains the results 
measured at intervals of five minutes. 
Time. 
Quantity of Gas. 
Rate per 5 min. 
Time. 
Quantity of Gas. 
Rate per 5 min. 
h m 
cubic inches. 
cubic inches. 
h m 
cubic inches. 
cubic inches. 
10 22 
11 24 
1-3 
10 27 
.... 2-5 .... 
2-5 
11 29 
2-2 
.... 0-9 
10 32 
4-6 .... 
2-1 
11 34 
3-0 
.... 0-8 
10 34 
Voltameter refilled. 
11 39 
3-55 
10 39 
2-6 
. . . . 2-6 
11 44 
4-1 
0-55 
10 44 
4’4 .... 
. . . . 1-8 
11 49 
4-5 
.... 0-4 
10 46 
Voltameter refilled. 
11 54 
4-9 
. . .. 0-4 
10 51 
2-8 
2-8 
11 59 
5-25 
. . . . 0-35 
10 56 
4-9 
2-1 
12 0 
Voltameter refilled. 
10 57 
Voltameter refilled. 
12 15 
0-9 
0-3 
11 2 
2-4 .... 
2-4 
12 30 
1-7 
. . . . 0-26 
11 7 
4-2 .... 
1-8 
12 45 
2-25 
. . . . 0-26 
11 8 
Voltameter refilled. 
1 0 
2-75 
. . . . 0-25 
11 13 
1-8 
1-8 
1 58 
Battery left in connexion. 
11 18 
3-2 
1-4 
2 13 
0-1 .... 
0-03 
11 19 
Voltameter refilled. 
This series of observations displays in a striking manner the peculiar irregularities 
of the common voltaic battery, and entirely agrees with those which I had previously 
made with the dissected battery ; the energy of the first contact declining even in the 
first five minutes a fourth or a third ; recovering itself again by one minute’s rest, 
and again declining : even with five such intervals of interrupted action, falling off 
permanently one half in the first hour ; in the next hour of unceasing action rapidly 
falling to one tenth ; and after four hours’ connexion almost entirely ceasing. 
If we compare the surfaces of the generating and conducting plates in each cell of 
the two batteries, we shall find that of the zinc in the Wollaston battery 32 square 
inches, whilst in the constant battery it does not exceed 7i inches. If we calculate 
only the interior surface of the copper of the former, that is also 32 inches ; but if 
both surfaces be efficient, (as I believe, though not to the same amount,) then it 
amounts to 64 inches. It can only, of course, be the interior surface of the copper 
cylinders of the constant battery \v hich assists the action ; and reckoning 5^ inches in 
depth to be efficient, it amounts to 65^ inches ; to which if we add a small quantity 
for the bottom and the underside of the colander, the amount of surface but little 
exceeds the former ; but then it is all disposed to the greatest advantage. Under 
these circumstances the power of the constant battery is double that of the common 
battery at its first impulse, and can be maintained for any length of time in an inva- 
riable condition. 
I shall trouble you, on the present occasion, with but one comparison more ; and 
that is, of the efficiency of the two batteries under a retarding force. The charge 
which I used for the constant battery was only the double acid (sp. gr. 1056) ; but 
nevertheless I found that, with the opposition of three voltameters, the amount of 
gases in each was 09 cubic inch per five minutes; whilst a fresh set of Wollaston 
plates, with a new charge in the same proportions as before, gave only 0’32 cubic 
r 2 
