and the Globular Form of Fluids. 351 



produce an equilibrium, more of the fluid is forced into the 

 aperture ; this is suspended upon the same principle, until, 

 by a succession of these supplies, the height of the column 

 above the level of the surrounding fluid, gives it an addi- 

 tional weight, suflicient to counteract that which is trans- 

 ferred to the sides of the aperture. 



When, instead of a capillary tube, the fluid occupies a 

 vessel of considerable dimensions, the same adhesion to 

 the sides takes place ; but from the length of the lines they 

 fall in the centre by the force of gravitation, and only ex- 

 hibit the eff*ect of lateral suspension near their termina- 

 tions ; where it is rendered evident, by causing the fluid 

 which is thus connected with the sides of the vessel, to rise 

 above the general level. 



If the capillary aperture be formed by two parallel plates, 

 placed at a little distance from each other, the experiment 

 will include both cases ; the lines suspended by the plates 

 will be crossed by lines running in a transverse direction 

 to the sides of the vessel which contains the fluid, and as 

 the weight of the latter must be supported by the former, 

 the rise will be only half what it would be in a tube with a 

 square or circular aperture equal to the distance between 

 the plates. 



Light bodies floating upon any liquid which is disposed 

 to adhere to them in this manner, are drawn together by 

 the lines of particles which are formed between them, upon 

 the same principle that the opposite poles of two magnets 

 are drawn together : this is efiected, not by their direct 

 attraction, which is extremely small, but through the me- 

 dium of intermediate bodies brought into a magnetic state 

 by their inductive influence, the particles of which, when 

 in a gaseous or fluid state, are displaced by their greater 

 attraction for the magnets than for each other. 



The principles here developed are of great importance in 

 the economy of nature ; but as the operations to which we 

 more particularly allude, include the decomposition of fluids 

 by electrical currents, a subject not now before us, their 

 consideration will be deferred to some other opportunity. 



It will be observed, that in this theory oxygen is con- 

 sidered positive, and hydrogen negative, and of course, all 

 other bodies which are separated at the zinc surface are 



