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 / by William Watson.

  • William Watson
Date:
1746
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: 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 / by William Watson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    44/68 (page 36)
    [ 3« ] eledtrify a Drop of cold Water, drop- ing from the Sponge, enough to fire the Spirit; but after many unfuccefs- ful Trials, I was forced to deiift; be- caufe the cold Water dropping froin the Sponge not only cool’d the Spirit too much, but alfo render’d it too weak ; likewife, every drop carried with it great Part of the Ele&ricity from the Sponge. I then conlider’d, in what Manner, I could give a Te- nacity to the Water, fufficient to make the Drops hang a conliderable Time, and this I brought ~about by making a Mucilage of the Seeds of Fleawort. A wet Sponge then, fqueez’d hard and filfd with this cold Mucilage, was held in the Hand of an eleftrified Man, when the Drops forced out by the Eledtricity, affifted by the Tenacity of the Liquor, hung forne Inches from the Sponge; and by a Drop of this I fired not only the Spirit of Wine, but likewife the in¬ dam- *