“Water is charged principally with negative od from the sun, and positive from the moon; with positive and negative, according to the poles, from crystals and magnets, and from electric induction according to the direction of the stream — positive when it passes in a right-handed spiral from the zinc pole, and negative in the reverse direction; with positive od from the contact of any body which is rubbed; with negative od from chemical action; with positive od from positive metals; with negative od from sounding bodies, as a bell.

“All kinds of lifeless objects may be similarly charged from various sources of od. [Baron Dr. Karl] Reichenbach [1788-1869] has met with no exception.”