I6 Mr. Kemp on the Simple and 
ExpEeriment I.—The first experiment was made with a view 
to determine whether or not the metallic taste would be produced. 
At a given signal the copper and zinc plates were immersed, and 
at that instant the taste was distinctly perceived, as the extremi- 
ties of the platina wires were brought in contact with the tongue. » 
Exp. I1.—The great sciatic and anterior crural nerves of a frog 
were laid bare, and the connecting wires brought into contact alter=- 
nately with each ; at every immersion of the plates, the limb was 
strongly convulsed. 
Exp. III.—A glass was filled with water, to which a small, 
quantity of muriatic acid had been added, to increase its conduct- 
ing power. On the platina wires being put into it, which com-; 
pleted the circuit, decomposition took place; hydrogen appearing 
at the wire coming from the zinc plate, or positive pole, and oxy- 
He at the copper or negative pole, as would be expected from the 
uid circulating in a direction different to that of the battery. 
Exp. IV.—The platina wires were then made to terminate in a 
glass of pure water, when only a slight decomposition was effected :- 
this was on account of the bad conducting power of the pure water. 
No spark could be elicited from the contact of the wires. 
When the platina wires were terminated by iron wires much 
finer, and placed into water so as to complete the circuit, decom= 
position ensued ; hydrogen appearing at the zinc side, while the 
iron wire which came from the copper side combined with the dis- 
engaged oxygen. When a little acid was added to the water, the 
effect was greatly increased,—a continued stream of hydrogen ris- 
ing from the wire in connection with the zinc plate, while the iron 
wire from the copper plate was so much oxidated, that it became 
quite brittle. 
In these experiments it was necessary to raise the plates occa- 
sionally out of the sea, in order to free them from any globules of 
air or hydrogen that might attach themselves to their surfaces when 
the action went on more briskly. | 
The distance between the plates was now gradually diminished, 
while the circuit was kept complete; the wires being terminated. 
in the glass containing water and acid, in order to ascertain whe- 
ther or not decomposition became lessened as the plates were made 
to approach each other. When they were about half the distance 
from each other that they originally were placed, or about 150 feet, 
decomposition was considerably lessened. No effect took place 
upon the needle until the plates had approached to within four or 
five feet from each other ; and the effect increased as they were 
brought nearer, until when about 1-4th of an inch separate, the 
deviation amounted to nearly 40°. abe his 
When the circuit was completed by a fine iron wire, no sensible 
increase of temperature took place; so that the action upon the. 
plates was too weak to admit of this effect being produced. 
On account of neglecting to carry an electrometer with us, it 
could not be ascertained whether or not the electricity was of suifi<. 
cient intensity to affect it. 
