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

'1861OF MATTER, MIND, AND SPIRIT. 381dimensions, also p;irallcl to cacli other, the iiiugnetie power will be neutralized.1857. It is inferred that analogous phenomena take place in the particlesof masses or surfaces which are endowed with chemical affinity oreven cohesive attraction.1858. It is to the existence of the power by which these eflects arecaused, at opposite terminations, that bodies, in congealing or freezing fromthe state of liquidity, shoot into prismatic, oblong, regular forms, calledcrystals. This is illustrated in the formation of ice, which is seen to shootinto such prismatic crystals.1859. When a pane of glass is so situated as to have the focus of a solarmicroscope thrown upon any spot, so tliat the glass thus affected may bebetween the eye of an observer and the microscope, any small crystalsformed are greatly magnified.Hence if the focal space be moistened witha solution of certain salts, the solvent evaporating, crystallization ensues,and is seen to form appropriate figures for each salt employed. It is owingto this property that when certain solutions of various substances are evaporated,the soluble solid, as it is deposited from the solvent, arrangesitself longitudinally;one atom attaching itself to the pole of another, untilit creeps over the sides of the vessel in great quantity. The appearanceof arboresccnce in certain minerals is thus accounted for. When an amalgamof mercury with silver is hung by a platina wire within a bottle of asolution of silver in nitric acid, there is formed a beautiful branchincc ofsilver filaments. These are longer, though more slowly formed, as thesolution is more dilute. In very dilute solutions I have seen prisms ofsilver of more than an inch in length, so delicate, that but for the brilliancyof the surface they could not have been detected by the eye.18G0. Farraday distinguished two kinds of polarity—ferro-magnetic anddia-magnetic.That above described as taking place between steel magnetsis designated as ferro-magnetic. Dia-magnetic particles under magneticinfluence take position at right angles to that which would ensue fromferro-magnetism.. This explanation being premised to enable the student to comprehendwhat is meant by polarity, I will proceed to explain electric phenomena,according to the theory which I hold.1862. It is expected that the preceding discussions have prepared thereader to conceive that the atoms of all ponderable matter are endowedwith two analogous but opposite polar powers, which we term polarity.That in any two atoms the dissimilar polar powers tend to make them unite,the similar powers having the opposite tendency.the opposite powers or polaritiesare in contact, and thus reciprocally neutralized.That in any inert mass18G3. It will be also understood that the ethereal fluid which pervadesthe universe as the means of illumination is assumed to consist in like