In Saxton's electro-magnetic machine, the permanent steel magnets are placed horizontally instead of perpendicularly, and are composed of six or more horse-shoe-shaped pieces of steel. The armatures, or inductors, or electro-magnets (for they consist of pieces of soft round iron with wire wound round them), are two in number, and are adapted to exhibit either _quantity_ or _intensity_ effects. The quantity armature is constructed of stout iron, and covered with thick insulating wire. The intensity armature is made of slighter iron, and covered with from one thousand to two thousand yards of fine copper wire coated with silk. The _quantity_ armature is intended for the exhibition of results similar to those which are procurable from a voltaic battery, such as the magnetic spark, inducing magnetism in soft iron, heating platinum wire. The intensity armature is employed for the chemical decomposition of water and other bodies, and likewise for the administration of those terrible blows to the nervous system which cause strong men of the mildest deportment to become painfully excited, and to make those ejaculations which are so peculiar to the genus John Bull. EXPERIMENTS WITH THE MAGNETO-ELECTRIC MACHINE. _First Experiment._ The decomposition of water by the passage of electricity from one platinum plate to another, has already been illustrated at page 198. The [Page 244] same fact may likewise be displayed by the following arrangement of the machine. (Fig. 236.) [Illustration: Fig. 236. A. Apparatus for decomposing water and collecting the gases separately. B B. Wires proceeding from the machine at M, N. Q, works on the single break, H.] _Second Experiment._ The electric light obtained by the passage of the electricity from the battery through the charcoal points, is also an effect that can be produced by magneto-electric machines, the wires leading from the points A B being insulated by glass handles, and placed in the holes M N. (Fig. 237.) [Illustration: Fig. 237. The electric light obtained from the magneto machine.] [Page 245] _Third Experiment._ The scintillation of iron wire is one of the most pleasing experiments with this apparatus, and is performed by pressing gently one end of a piece of thin iron wire (attached by means of a binding-screw to the upright bar A) against the armature, D. (Fig. 238.) [Illustration: Fig. 238. Deflagration of iron wire.] _Fourth Experiment._ The combustion of ether or other inflammable spirit may also be demonstrated with the aid of this powerful apparatus, and the arrangement, in common with the others employed by Mr. Clarke, is shown in Fig. 239. [Illustration: Fig. 239. The break is removed, and the double blades, B, fixed in its place. The brass cup, A, containing mercury is so adjusted that the points will leave the surface of the mercury when the armature is vertical. Ether or alcohol poured on the surface is quickly inflamed by the electric spark.]