Miscellaneous observations, together with a collection of experiments on electricity. With the manner of performing them. Designed to explain the nature and cause of the most remarkable phenomena thereof. With some remarks on a pamphlet, intituled, A sequel to the experiments and observations tending to illustrate the nature and properties of electricity / [by Sir W. Watson] To which is annexed, a letter, written by the Author to the Academy of Sciences at Bordeaux, relative to the similarity of electricity to lightening and thunder.

  • Rackstrow, Benjamin, -1772.
Date:
1748
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Miscellaneous observations, together with a collection of experiments on electricity. With the manner of performing them. Designed to explain the nature and cause of the most remarkable phenomena thereof. With some remarks on a pamphlet, intituled, A sequel to the experiments and observations tending to illustrate the nature and properties of electricity / [by Sir W. Watson] To which is annexed, a letter, written by the Author to the Academy of Sciences at Bordeaux, relative to the similarity of electricity to lightening and thunder. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    [ ^9 ] jLOilching, caufes that dreadful explofion called Lightning and Thunder, with all its terrible eL feds. / The Chain that has one end under the cylindri¬ cal Glafs, having the other end applied to the Tube eledrified, ads as the Exhalation, &c. afeend- ing frorp the hill and water ; the upper Cloud fa- turated with eledrical jTlther (as before obferved) ading as our Tube eledrihed, and being difturb’d at its end by the approach of the Exhalation, dfc. as our eledrified Tube is at the approach of the end of the Chain; for when the attradive force ceafeth, the repelling power begins, and, of con- iequence, mult act ftronger from the faturated Cloud, than from the effluvia of the earth afeend- ing to it 5 fo darts the electrical .®ther from both ends of the Cloud vehemently (in order to keep up the ^equilibrium) into the Exhalations and Vapours which arife from the Mountain and Riven For I fuppofe the fulphureous Cloud no longer ca¬ pable of preventing the Electricity from breaking through fwhen it exerts itfelf) than our Glafs in the experiment where the fhock is given *, this sethereal Fire being led in whatfoever direction thofe Exhalations, are in, may confequently pafs through Trees or Animals, Cfn they all being great conveyers of this electrical jEther. This Fire, in its progrefflion through the effluvia, electrifies fif the expreffion be allow’d^ each par- dele thereof ^ which caufeth thofe particles to fly afunder, and become Air : but efpecially the hardeft of the effluvia*, for Sir Ifaac Newton takes true and permanent Air to be form’d fiom the Exhala¬ tions railed from the hardeft and moft: compact bodies. And as this sethereal Fire is darted from the electrified Cloud at one end, it paflfes through L 2 . ' the