OCR Text |
Show 76 Additional Notes. of two ethers, like the electric one which it surrounds: b.ut these ethers arc probably more subtile as they permeate ~ll bod~cs; and when they unite by the reciprocal approach of t~1e l.>o(.lics, whrc~ they surround, they do not appear to emit heat and h~·ht, as t~c pnmary electric atmospheres do; and therefore they are s1mpler flurJs, as they are not previously combined with heat and light .. The s_econdary _magnetic atmospheres are also probably more subttle or simple than the primary ones. . Hence we may suppose, that not only all the larger 111 ·ulated masses of matter, but all the minute particles al o, which constitute those masses, are surrounded by two ethereal fluids; which like the electric and mao·nctic ones attract each other forcibly, and as forcibly repel b those of the same denomination; and at the same time strongly adhere to the bodits which they surround. Secondly that these ethers are of the finer kin~l, like those secondary ones, which surround the primary electric and magnetic ethers; and that therefore they do not explode giving out heat and light when they unite, but simply combine, and become neutral; and lastly, that they surround different borlies in different proportions, as the vitreous and resinous electric ethers were s.hown to surround silver and zinc and many other metals in different proportions inN o. IX. of this note. 5. For the greater ease of conversing on this subject, we shall call thes.e two ethers, with which all bodies are surrounded, the masculine and the feminine ethers; and suppose them to possess the properties above mentioned. v\F e should here however previously observe, that in chemical processes it is necessary, that the bodies, which are to combine or unite with each other, should be in a fluid state, and the particles in contact with each other; thus when salt is dissolving in water, the particles of salt unite with those of the water, which touch them; thes.~ particles of water become saturated, and thence attract some of the saline particles with less force; which are therefore attracted from them by those behind; and the :first particles of water are again saturated from the solid salt; or in some similar processes the saturated combinations may subside or evaporate, as in the union of the two electric ethers, or in the explosion of gun-powder, -and thus those in their vicinity may approach each other. This ue- Chemical Theory of Electricity and Magnetism. 77 ~essi~y of~ liquid form for the purpose of combination appears in the hgbtmg of _gunp.owcler, as well as in all other combustion, the spark of fire applied tl1ssolves the sulphur, and liquifies the combined heat· and ~y th~se mean~ a fluidity succeeds, and the conseC]_uent attraction~ and 1 epuls10ns, wh1ch form the explosion. The whole mixed mass of matter, of which the earth is composed, w~ snppo e to be surround ed and penetrated by the two ethers, but With a greater proportion of the masculine ether than of the feminine. When a stone is elevate? above the surface of the earth, we suppose it also to be surrounded w1th ah atmo phere of the two ethers, but with a greater proportion of the feminine than of the masculine, and that these ethers adhere strongly by cohesion uoth to the earth and to the stone el~vated above it. Now the greater quantity of the masculine ether o~ the earth becomes in contact with the greater quantity of the feminme ether of the stone above it; which it powerfully attracts, and at the same time repels the less quantity of the masculine ether of the stone. The reciprocal attractions of these two fluids, if not restrained by counter attractions, bring them together as in chemical com~ bination, and tbus they bring together the solid bodies, which they reciprocally ad here to; if they be not immovable; which solid bodies, wheu brought into contact, cohere by their own reciprocal attractions, and hence the mysterious affair of distant attraction or oTavitation b becomes intelligible, and consonant to the chemical combinations of fluid s. To further elucidate these various attractions, if the patient reader be not already tired, he will please to attend to the following experiment: let a bit of sponge suspended on a silk line be moistened with a solution of pure alcali, and another similar piece .of sponge be moi tened with a weak a.cicl, and suspended near the former; c1cctrize one of them with vitreous ether, and the other with resinous ether; as they hang with a thin plate of glass between them: now as these two electric ethers appear to attract each other without intermixing; as neither of them can pass through glass; they must be themselves smToullded with secondary ethers, which pass through the glass, ~nd attract each other, as they become in contact; as these seco11Clary ether adhere to the primary vitreous and resinous ethers, these primary ones are drawn |