The most important chemical discoveries from the first manufacture of glass to the whitening and refining of sugar have all been due to some happy chance which might have befallen a mere dabbler as easily as a deep student.
"Well, it was to such a chance that my own great discovery--perhaps the greatest that the world has seen--was due, though I may claim the credit of having originated the line of thought which led up to it.

I had frequently speculated as to the effect which powerful currents of electricity exercise upon any substance through which they are poured for a considerable time.

I did not here mean such feeble currents as are passed along a telegraph wire, but I mean the very highest possible developments.

Well, I tried a series of experiments upon this point.

I found that in liquids, and in compounds, the force had a disintegrating effect.