978. I then experimented on bodies rendered decomposable by fusion, and first on _chloride of lead_. The current was excited by dilute sulphuric acid without any nitric acid between zinc and platina plates, fig. 87, and was then made to traverse a little chloride of lead fused upon glass at _a_, a paper moistened in solution of iodide of potassium at _b_, and a galvanometer at _g_. The metallic terminations at _a_ and _b_ were of platina. Being thus arranged, the decomposition at _b_ and the deflection at _g_ showed that an electric current was passing, but there was no appearance of decomposition at _a_, not even after a _metallic_ communication at _b_ was established. The experiment was repeated several times, and I am led to conclude that in this case the current has not intensity sufficient to cause the decomposition of the chloride of lead; and further, that, like water (974.), fused chloride of lead can conduct an electric current having an intensity below that required to effect decomposition. 979. _Chloride of silver_ was then placed at _a_, fig. 87, instead of chloride of lead. There was a very ready decomposition of the solution of iodide of potassium at _b_, and when metallic contact was made there, very considerable deflection of the galvanometer needle at _g_. Platina also appeared to be dissolved at the anode of the fused chloride at _a_, and there was every appearance of a decomposition having been effected there. 980. A further proof of decomposition was obtained in the following manner. The platina wires in the fused chloride at _a_ were brought very near together (metallic contact having been established at _b_), and left so; the deflection at the galvanometer indicated the passage of a current, feeble in its force, but constant. After a minute or two, however, the needle would suddenly be violently affected, and indicate a current as strong as if metallic contact had taken place at _a_. This I actually found to be the case, for the silver reduced by the action of the current crystallized in long delicate spiculae, and these at last completed the metallic communication; and at the same time that they transmitted a more powerful current than the fused chloride, they proved that electro-chemical decomposition of that chloride had been going on. Hence it appears, that the current excited by dilute sulphuric acid between zinc and platina, has an intensity above that required to electrolyze the fused chloride of silver when placed between platina electrodes, although it has not intensity enough to decompose chloride of lead under the same circumstances. 981. A drop of _water_ placed at _a_ instead of the fused chlorides, showed as in the former case (970.), that it could conduct a current unable to decompose it, for decomposition of the solution of iodide at _b_ occurred after some time. But its conducting power was much below that of the fused chloride of lead (978.).