Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

OF iMATTJ:il, MINI), AND SPIRIT. 379limit, the atoms of certain vaporizable particlen, such as those of steam andother condeusible vapours, arc approximated sulTicicntly to attract eachother, and consequently coalesce and are condensed.1848. It follows that light is due to undulation, sensible heat to vlhratlon,and electricity to the polarization caused in the ethereal medium, whilecither in a free, or in a combined state. Thus this luminifcrous ether performsthe part heretofore attributed to latent heat or caloric in one state;in another state, that of sensible heat.Suggestions of Massotti, respecting the Nature of Matter.1849. Massotti has suggested that all bodies consist of two kinds ofultimate particles ; that any two or more particles of one kind arc repulsiveof each other, while any two or more of different kinds are reciprocallyattractive. Ilcncc atoms are formed, consisting of one atom of onekind and one of the other kind. Of course, were the opposite forcesexercised by the heterogeneous and homogeneous equal, the resulting atomswould be neither attractive nor repulsive; but assuming the attractivepower to have the ascendency, the hypothesis would account for the propertyof gravitation.1850. Let the suggestions of Massotti be modified, so far as that theextremities of each particle, whether of one or the other kind, are to beconsidered as endowed with opposite polarities, like those of the magneticneedle, as already suggested in the case of matter in general. Then inone relative position of the extremities they may be reciprocally repulsive,in the other reciprocally attractive ; likewise one of the kinds of matter,like the light-producing ether of the undulationists, may pervade the universe,and be condensed in a peculiarly great quantity within perfect conductors: all this being premised, it may be conceived how the waves ofopposite polarization, which proceed from oppositely electrified, or in otherwords, oppositely polarized bodies, cause the matter through which theypass to be decomposed or explosively rent.1851. As elsewhere stated, in large bodies of water, waves are the effectof transference of motion successively from one part of the mass to theother; the rolling of the wave causing nothing to pass but the motion,and of course, the momentum is invariably consequent to motion. Thewaves by which sound is transmitted, are analogous ; nothing being transferredexcepting a vibration of the air, capable of aff'ecting the tympanumof the ear with the impression requisite to create in the sensorium the ideaof sound.1852. Any affection of matter, capable of existing in succesive parts ofa material body, so that while the body is stationary, the affection passesfrom one part of the mass to others, may be considered as a wave of thataffection, as reasonably as the affection called momentum is considered asproducing a wave in water, when passing through it, as above described.