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
As I concluded that the pile in which I had employed the alcoholic
extract of opium possessed more activity than the other, I examined it
for four or five days successively. I tried the flame of a taper with
the same result as before, and assured myself that this pile retained
the Galvanic power, though a little weakened, even till the eighth
day. On the other hand, twenty-four hours had scarcely elapsed, when
the pile in which alcohol and cinchona had been employed exhibited no
signs of activity.
EXPERIMENT IV.
I constructed two piles, in the same manner, with pieces of pasteboard
interposed, which had been previously moistened with strong solutions
of camphor and of castor oil, in pure alcohol. In these two piles the
Galvanic effects were much weaker in every respect than those observed
in the preceding experiment; for, besides the explosion being less,
the elevation of water in the insulated plenum was very small, and the
alteration of the flame was scarcely sensible.
EXPERIMENT V.
I was able to convince myself that the effects of the two piles,
before mentioned, were the immediate result of the substances
dissolved, and not of the alcohol; for, having constructed a pile of
thirty plates of silver and zinc, with pieces of pasteboard
interposed, moistened with pure alcohol, I observed no signs of
Galvanism; and the case was the same when I employed a pile of zinc
combined with copper and other metals.
PROPOSITION XVI.
_If the general relation between Galvanism and electricity be
examined, such a correspondence will be found between them, as tends
to confirm the analogy already stated._
To illustrate this proposition, I shall here take a view of the
particular properties of electricity and Galvanism, which, if
considered separately, would not be sufficient for my object. I am,
however, of opinion, that when combined together they will serve to
prove it in a satisfactory manner.
1st, Galvanism, like artificial electricity, emits sparks, fuses
metals, and can even be employed to charge armed non-conducting
bodies. I have proved the last-mentioned property, discovered by the
celebrated Van Marum, with a new apparatus, composed of a pile with a
hole in the middle, in which I place the flask I intend to charge.
2dly, The influence of artificial electricity tends to accelerate the
putrefaction of animal parts; and the same phænomenon may be produced
by communication with the Voltaic pile, or by the first processes of
Galvani.
3dly, The electricity of the Leyden jar is renewed in part immediately
after its discharge. A similar phænomenon is exhibited by the pile;
and it is observed, if the common Galvanic armatures be employed, that
the vital force in animals is almost revived, when the arcs are
applied different times.
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