Experiments and Observations Tending to Illustrate the Nature and Properties of Electricity: In One Letter to Martin Folkes, Esq; President, and Two to the Royal Society — John Shaqi
Experiments and Observations Tending to Illustrate the Nature and Properties of Electricity: In One Letter to Martin Folkes, Esq; President, and Two to the Royal SocietyWatson, William, Sir
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Experiments and Observations Tending to Illustrate the Nature and Properties of Electricity: In One Letter to Martin Folkes, Esq; President, and Two to the Royal Society
Watson, William, Sir
Electricity -- Early works to 1850
_2dly_, THAT inflammable Substances are fired by the repulsive Power of
Electricity; when it happens, that the inflammable Substances, being
first electrified themselves, are fired by being brought near
non-Electrics not excited.
THIS Matter will be better illustrated by an Example. Suppose that
either a Man standing upon a Cake of Wax, or a Sword suspended in silk
Lines are electrified, and the Spirit, being brought near them, is
fired, this is said to be perform'd by the attractive Power of
Electricity. But if the Man electrified as before holds a Spoon in his
Hand containing the Spirit, or the same Spoon and Spirit are placed upon
the Sword, and a Person not electrified applies his Finger near the
Spoon, and the Spirit is fired from the Flame arising from the Spoon and
Spirit upon such Application; this I call being fired by the repulsive
Power. Of the two mention'd Kinds I generally find the repulsive Power
strongest.
SINCE my last Communication, the Spirit has been fired both by the
attractive and repulsive Power through four Persons standing upon
electrical Cakes; each communicating with the other either by the Means
of a walking Cane, a Sword, or any other non-electric Substance. It has
likewise been fired from the Handle of a Sword held in the Hand of a
third Person.
I HAVE not only fired _Frobenius_'s Phlogiston, rectified-spirit and
common proof-spirit, but also Sal volatile Oleosum, Spirit of Lavender,
dulcified Spirit of Nitre, Peony Water, _Daffy_'s Elixir, _Helvetius_'s
Stiptic, and some other Mixtures where the Spirit has been very
considerably diluted; likewise distilled vegetable Oils, such as that of
Turpentine, Lemon, Orange Peels and Juniper, and even those of them,
which are specifically heavier than Water, as Oil of Sassafras; also
resinous Substances, such as Balsam Capivi and Turpentine; all which
send forth, when warmed, an inflammable Vapour. But expressed vegetable
Oils, as those of Olives, Linseed, and Almonds, as well as Tallow, all
whose Vapours are uninflammable, I have not been able yet to fire; but
these indeed will not fire on the Application of lighted Paper. Besides,
if these last would fire with lighted Paper, unless their Vapours were
inflammable, I can scarce conceive they would fire by Electricity;
because in firing Spirits, _&c._ I always perceive that the Electricity
snaps before it comes in Contact with their Surfaces, and therefore only
fires their inflammable Vapours.
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