Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-09-15

d
covery, that similar commissions might he
produced in frog, Independently Of the
electrical machine, by forming a chain Of
coductlng substances between the outside
OF Inc muscles of the leg, and the crural
nerve. Galvani had previously entertain
60 the idea that the contractions of the
muscles OF animals were in some way de-
pendent on electricity and as these new
experiments appeared strongly to favour
this hypothesis, he with great ingenuity
applied it to explain them. He compared
me muscle OF living animal to Leyden
Ph'al, charged by the accumulation of
electricity on its surface; while he con-
celyed that the nerve belonging to it per-
formed the function of the wire commu-
nicating with the interiour of the phial.
wnich would, Of course, be charged neg
atlyalv. In this state, whenever com
enumeration wasmade, by means of a sub
stance Of high conducting power, between
the surface ofthe muscle and the nerve.
the equilibrium would be Instantly restor-
ed, and asudden contraction of the fibres
would be the consequence.
The discoveries of Galyani were M
sooner made known to the scienti6ck
world. than they excited very general in
terest; and philosophers in every country
in Europe wed with each other in repeat
ing his experiments, in varying them in
all possible ways, and in inventing all
kinds of hypothesis to account for the
phenomena. Some regarded them as the
effects OF new and unknown agent, diff
tering altogether from electricity; while
others, adopting the views of Galvani, re-
cognzed them to be electrical, bu, attri-
buted them to peculiar modification of
that poweE residing in the animal system
only. and which they accordingly distin-
gulshed bt the name of Animal Electrici-
iy. But the discovery of new facts con-
tributed more and more to multiply and
strengthen the analogies between galvan-
ism and Electricity till at length all doubt
of the identity of the agent concerned in
all these phenomena was removed by the
discovery of the Galoanick or VoLtaick
Pile. Whatever share accident may have
had in ihe original discovery of Galvani, it
is cert5ln that the invention of the pile, an
instrument which has most materially con-
tributed to the extension of our knowl-
edgein this branch of physical science,
was purely the result of reasoning. Pro-
fessbr Volta, of Pavia, name already ia
mihar to electricians, was led to the d;s-
coVery OF its properties by deep meditation
on the Development of electricity at the
surface of contact of different metals
We may justly regard this discovery as
forming an important epoch in the history
of galvanism: and indeed, since that pc
Rod, the terms VoHaism, or Vohoick
Electricity, have often, in honour of this
illustrious philosopher, been used to desig-
nate that particular form of electrical a
gency, which is the subject of the present
treatise.
EFFECTS OF GALvANIsM. There are
three principal circumstances in which
the electricity produced by the voltaick
battery differs from that obtained from the
ordinary electrical machine first, the ve-
ny low degree of intensity in which it ex-
lists in the former, when compared with
the latter secondly, the very large guam
tity of electricity which is set in motion
by the voltack battery; and thirdly, the
continuity of the current of yoltaick cleo
tricity, and its perpetual reproduction,
even while this current is tending to re-
store the equilibrium. The effects of the
voltaick pile have been compared by the
inventor Of that instrument to those of an
electrick battery of large dimensions, but
charged only to low degree; in which
case, as appears from what has already
been said on this subject in the Treatise
on Electricity, large quantity of electric
ity may be contained, with very small
tendency to escape, or, in other words,
with very feeble intensity. The COM
parison is, in many respects, just; but it
fails in regard to the third property we
have noticed as belonging to the voltalck
apparatus; namely, the continuity of the
current arising from its perpetual repro
duction and circulation.
However considerable may be the pow
er collected in highly charged electrick
battery, the whole Of that power is at once
expended as soon as the circnit is compile
ted. Its action may, while it lasts, be suE
ficiently energetick but-it is exerted on
ly for an instant; and, like the destruct-
i've operation of lightning, can effect, dur
ing its momentary passage, only sudden
and violent changes, which il is beyond
the power ofthe experimentalist to regu-
late or control. On the contrary, the vol
taick batter; continues, for an indefinite
time, to develope and supply vast quanti-
ties of electricity, which, far from being
lost by returning to their source, circulate
in perpetual stream, and with undimin-
ished force. The effects of this continu-
ed current on the bodies subjected to its
action, will, therefore, be more definite,
and will be constantly accommodating and
their amount will, in process of time. be
Al IL