New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-08
EXTRACTING METALS FROM TIE BOD
BY ELECTRICITY.
r. N. Fditor Of The N. Y. Pribuas.

~ the Editor Of The N Y Pribsae
SIR: In your paper of the 22d inst writer, over
the signature X, has made certanchnrges ag Inst
in relation to my discovery Of the Eectro Chemical
Bath-chargcs which although perhal' havsg ten.
dercy to nisead the public are susceptible OF easy
refutatios.
In the first place, have never claimed that de-
posted the cyanide of silver by a single process;
but ON the contrary | asserted that after repealed
carnations finally succeeded in extracting the poison;
still will by no means admit that ae cyanide OF
silver, and other compound substances, may not be
plccptattd on the pole Of battery. Bysprocess well
known TO myself and have doubt toothers but Of
which X. is evidently entirely ignorant, can plate an
iron plate with the compound OF zinc ana copper, viz:
brass, q substance composed o; two metals entirely
opposite in electrical excitston, but asoby sufficiently
Strengthening the electrical current, third substance,
viz; hydrogen, viii be dsengaged. And if the eva
hide Of silver has never been deposited compound
Oh the pole OF battery, It does not prove that II
ssible but that we far from knowing all the
secrets Of chemistry Nature, In incommensur
variety Of WAYS IL continually resolving prob ems
thousand times difficult than this. In regard TO
the word cvanade Of silver, which appears 10 disturb
X. weula simply remark that il was fault of copy
| have no doubt X. WI sympathze with as see the
wod conductabhty several times repeated in the ar
to.e referred to, and II certainly cannot be original
with himself. But TO proceed, he says:
We should suVpose that matter when altered in
Gsie substances b. combined with metal would
IerhsIs Idcation.hoogh its increased rita
btS Of of that x-eat cAsh.e. The physoogs:s
tie chemists OF Mr. Ycsnes couatry no doubt
such Al ss,cnishirg discovery"
l would ask, II the subject Of mercuria on lead
poison has lot sufficient evidence Of nervous irritation
In ghy mag ihed rausy. section Of q nerve we
notice a combination Of cells, say of ovma.onn and
losphoius, Of which is electro positive than
the ether bound together by abulnne forming vol
taic couple which trapsrnis the electrical current with
much greater facility than any simple substance. And
If the nerves sre q SO much better conductor than
any other part of the human system is it not fair
TO presume tina, the metallic substance, that may be
carried through the body by the electrical uhduation
Is brought in immediate contact herewith, and if you
please retained by these miniature voltae circles
Again It is not true that this gavanic current invs-
nabv takes the shortest circuit to the negative poe,
and which Mr. X. asserts takes place in my bath with
IN one OF two inches Il the surface; such was the
fact those who plate by electricity would find inpo-
slbe to perform many operations which they are con-
nuay practiciDg. Take, for instance copper vase
and MI with a proper solution Of pirate Of SILVER,
cy anide Of pot sssu and bicarbonate of sods if
connect the with the negative pole and bng the
positive pole i'll contact with the surface OF the solution
instantly tie whole Interior Of the will be covered
with beautiful coat of silver matter Of what size
or omensiops the vase may be, which would not take
place if the current of electricity confined to two
inches below the surface Again. II we place the posi-
tive pole of my battery in contact with the sur
face Of the wster in the bath 40 TO complste
the CIRCUIT, and now place one hsnd Oh the positive