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

APPENDIX. 457the coils of an clcctro-magnct, secondary waves arc induced, called secondarycurrents. It seems reasonable to ascribe tlicsi; waves to the sameshifting of the poles, which produces the sunorilie undulations.'^-80. Within the bodies of animals and vegetables, the electro-ether maybe supposed to exist as an atmosphere surrounding tlie etlicrco-poMdcrableatoms of which their organs are constituted, so as to occupy all the spacewhich is not replete with such atoms. Hence a discharge of frictionalelectricity may indirectly polarize the whole animal frame, by producingcthcreo-ponderable polarization in the constituent atoms of the fibres of* Thcso phenomena excite more interest in consequence of the employment, for medicalpurposes, of an apparatus originally contrived by Callau, but since ingeniously modifiedl)y our countryman, Dr. Page, into a form which has been designated as the electrotorae.A coil of coarse copper wire, covered with cotton, like bonnet Avire, is wound about awooden cylinder. Around the coil thus formed, a coil of fine copper wire similarly coveredis wound, leaving the extremities accessible. One end of the coarse coil communicatingconstantly with one pole of a galvanic battery, the other end is left free ; so that by scrapingwith it the teeth of a rasp attached to the other pole, a rapid closing and opening ofthe circuit may be effected. Under these circumstances, an observer, holding the ends ofthe fine coil, receivesshocks more or less severe, according to the construction of the battery,the energy of the agents employed to excite it, or the total weight and relative dimensionsof the coils as to length and sectional area. Agreeably to the received doctrine,the shocks thus produced arc owing to secondary currents caused by dynamic induction.Agreeably to the hypothesis which I have advanced, the atoms of the coarse wire, polarizedby waves proceeding from the poles of the batter}', induce a corresponding polarizationof the atoms of the fine wire; the aggregate polarity imparted being as the numberof atoms in the former to the number of atoms in the latter: or (to use an equivalentratio) as the weight of the coarse, to the weight of the fine wire. But as on breaking thecircuit through the coarse wire, the ethereo-ponderable atoms in both wires resume theirneutral positions, while this requires each circuit to be run through within the same minuteinterval, the velocities of their respective waves will be inversely as their sectional areasand directly as their lengths : in other words, the velocit}'' in the fine wire will be as muchgreater as the channel which it affords is narrower and longer. The cylinder includedwithin the coils as above stated being removed, a cylindrical space is vacated. If intothe cavity thus made iron rods, like knitting needles, be introduced, one after the other,while the apparatus is in operation, the shocks increase in severity as the number augments;so that from being supportable they may be rendered intolerable. The shocktakes place without the presence of iron, but is much increased by its assistance.---These facts appear to me to justify a surmise that the ethereo-ponderable atoms of iron,in becoming magnetized and demagnetized, co-operate with the ethereo-ponderable atomsof the copper coils in the induction of secondai'y undulations. It is conceived that thesemay be owing to the intestinal change attended by sound, as above stated, (73;) thisbeing caused by a sudden approximation of the poles of the atoms, previously movedapart by the influence of the galvanized coil. But if this sudden coming together of thepreviously separated poles of atoms within a magnetized cyilndcr of iron, can contributeto the energy of secondary waves, it is consistent to infer that these waves owe their originto an analogous approximation of the separated poles of the cupreous atoms, forming thofiner coil, in which the secondary undulations may be created without the presence ofiron. Of course, this reasoning will apply to all cases in which the phenomena hithertoattributed to Farradian currents are the result of dynamic induction.Thus it appears that the polarization of magnets, and that created and sustained whena galvanized coil or helix acts upon another in proximit}', have the same relation to galvanicdischarges that the charges upon insulated surfaces have to their appropriate discharges.The permanent magnetism of steel seems to have some analogy with the chargeupon a coated jiane, while we may consider as analogous with the charges upon insulatedconductors, already adverted to, (61, 62,) that state of the ethereo-ponderable particles,(38,) of a wire helix, which state, resulting from the influence of an included magnet, orneighbouring galvanized coil, and being discharged on a change of relative position, orbreach of the galvanizing circuit, is productive of spark, shock, ignition, or electrolysis,as exemplified by Callan's coil. Page's electrotome, or the magneto-electric machine.^' Agreeably to the usual construction, tho cylinder about which tho inner coarse wirecoil is wound is originally of iron, so that there is as much of this metal contained as itcan hold. Various contrivances are resorted to fur the closing and opening of the circuit,which arc more ingenious and convenient than scraping a rasp, as above described.