An Account of the Late Improvements in Galvanism: With a Series of Curious and Interesting Experiments Performed Before the Commissioners of the French National Institute, and Repeated Lately in the Anatomical Theatres of LondonAldini, Giovanni
Science
An Account of the Late Improvements in Galvanism: With a Series of Curious and Interesting Experiments Performed Before the Commissioners of the French National Institute, and Repeated Lately in the Anatomical Theatres of London
Aldini, Giovanni
Electricity -- Early works to 1850
“I took a strong torpedo, and, as soon as it was dead, armed
its nerves with the usual armature. Having then placed it on
an insulating stool, a little elevated above water, I
covered it with a bell-glass the content of which was equal
to 432 cubic inches. At the end of some hours I observed,
with great surprise, that the water under the insulated
plenum began to rise progressively during about ten hours;
and at the end of forty-eight I found that it had risen an
inch; so that it occupied a ninth part of the capacity of
the bell, that is to say, forty-eight cubic inches. I
analysed the remaining air, and found that the bell
contained no more than 80 cubic inches of oxygen gas, and
324 of azotic gas; and that, during the above period, more
than two-fifths of the oxygen gas contained in the bell had
been absorbed.”
I propose going to the sea-coast, in order that I may repeat the
experiment on the torpedo without any armature; and I shall embrace
that opportunity of making various researches in regard to the new
theory of Galvanism. I think it necessary, in general, to submit to
new experiments the different animal parts immersed in the different
aëriform fluids, fixing their various combinations according to the
degrees of Galvanic force which they may possess.
PROPOSITION IX.
_Flame prevents the action of the Leyden flask, as well as that of the
pile, and also muscular contractions._
EXPERIMENT I.
I placed a lighted taper on an insulating stool; and having made the
wire, proceeding from the interior coating of a charged Leyden flask,
to pass through the flame, I found that, without forming an arc, it
lost a portion of its electricity. If the experiment be repeated in
such a manner that the flame makes a part of the arc between the two
coatings, the flask is entirely discharged, without the arms of the
person who forms part of the arc experiencing the least shock.
EXPERIMENT II.
I adapted to the summit of the pile a circular brass vessel,
containing spirit of wine. By these means the pile was made to
terminate in a strong flame, to which I applied a metallic conductor,
while with the other hand I touched the bottom of the pile. The
Galvanic fluid still withstood my efforts; and the case was the same
when I substituted for the spirit of wine the flame of a common
candle. It is proper here to remark, that the flame did not lessen the
action of the Galvanism when the conductor, instead of being applied
to the flame, was applied to the plate at the summit of the pile.
EXPERIMENT III.
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