A NEW THEORY OF THE SUN. 231 



within a medium of unbounded extension. In this case pressures 

 would b.e balanced all round, and the sun would act mechanically upon 

 the floating matter surrounding him in the manner of a fan, drawing 

 it toward himself upon the polar surfaces, and projecting it outward in 

 a continuous disk-like stream from the equatorial surfaces. 



By this fan action, hydrogen, hydrocarbons, and oxygen are sup- 

 posed to be drawn in enormous quantities toward the polar surfaces of 

 the sun ; during their gradual approach they pass from their condition 

 of extreme attenuation and intense cold to that of compression, accom- 

 panied with increase of temperature, until, on approaching the photo- 

 sphere, they burst into flame, giving rise to a great development of 

 heat, and a temperature commensurate with their point of dissociation 

 at the solar density. The result of their combustion will be aqueous 

 vapor and carbonic acid, and these products of combustion, in yielding 

 to the influence of centrifugal force, will flow toward the solar equa- 

 tor, and be thence projected into space. 



In view of the importance of this centrifugal action for the pur- 

 pose of my theory, the following simple mathematical statement of the 

 problem may not be thought out of place : Let us consider the condi- 

 tion of two equal gaseous masses, at equal distances from the solar 

 center, the one in the direction of the equator, the other in that of 

 either of the poles. These two masses would be equally attracted 

 toward the sun, and balance one another as regards the force of gravi- 

 tation, but the former would be subject to another force, that of cen- 

 trifugal action, which, however small in amount as compared with the 

 enormous attraction of the sun, would destroy the balance, and deter- 

 mine a motion toward the sun as regards the mass opposite the polar 

 surface, and into space as regards the equatorial mass. The same ac- 

 tion would take effect upon the masses filling their places, and the 

 result must be a continuous current depending for its velocity upon 

 the rate of solar rotation. The equatorial current so produced, owing 

 to its mighty proportions, would flow outward into space, to a practi- 

 cally unlimited distance. 



The next question for consideration is, "What would become of 

 these products of combustion when thus returned into space ? Ap- 

 parently they would gradually change the condition of stellar material, 

 rendering it more and more neutral ; but I venture to suggest the pos- 

 sibility, nay, the probability, that solar radiation will, under these con- 

 ditions, step in to bring back the combined materials to a state of sep- 

 aration by dissociation carried into effect at the expense of that solar 

 energy which is now supposed to be irrevocably lost or dissipated into 

 space as the phrase goes. 



According to the law of dissociation as developed by Bunsen and 

 Sainte-Claire Deville, the point of decomposition of different com- 

 pounds depends upon the temperature on the one hand, and upon the 

 pressure on the other. According to Sainte-Claire Deville, the disso- 



