1S97.] HOUSTON, KEXXELLY — THE PATH OF A CURRENT. 147 



ether were propagated in all directions like disturbances in an 

 elastic solid, and were, therefore, transmitted in waves. Maxwell, 

 therefore, was the discoverer of the probability of electromagnetic 

 waves in ether. He also suggested that light might be a purely 

 electromagnetic phenomenon of very high frequency, and adduced 

 experimental evidence in favor of this belief. The actual existence 

 of these electromagnetic waves has since been abundantly dem- 

 onstrated by Hertz and many others. Though invisible to the 

 unaided eye, electromagnetic waves can be traced by the aid of sen- 

 sitive electromagnetic apparatus constituting what has not been 

 inaptly styled the electric eye. 



As the result of both the experimental and mathematical work of 

 the latter half of the present century, especially that of Mr. Oliver 

 Heaviside, it is now believed that electric currents are transmitted 

 as electric waves through the ether surrounding a conductor, being 

 guided by the conductor, but not transmitted through it. 



Notwithstanding the fact that the more modern views have been 

 in existence for upwards of thirty years ; that their truth is practi- 

 cally undisputed, and that, on the contrary, within the last ten years, 

 strong experimental evidence has been adduced in their behalf, yet 

 both the old phraseology and the old methods of treatment are still 

 almost universally employed even in the modern text-books of the 

 day. 



In view of the preceding facts, the authors consider that a brief 

 description of the manner in which an electric current is now 

 believed to be transmitted, may aid in disseminating the more 

 modern views. 



All electric, magnetic or electromagnetic phenomena are now 

 believed to be referable to two conditions of stress in the ether, 

 one of which is called electric flux, and the other, ?nagnelic flux. 

 The exact nature of both is unknown. Though invisible, the 

 presence of each may be manifested in a variety of ways. So inti- 

 mately are the electric and magnetic fluxes correlated, that any dis- 

 turbance in one immediately calls the other into existence. Elec- 

 tric flux exists between two electric charges. Thus, a positively 

 charged sphere, situated at rest in a room, radiates streams of elec- 

 tric flux, towards all parts of the room, along lines called stream lines, 

 which may be readily mapped out. The ether is strained or dis- 

 turbed in some manner along these stream lines. So long as the 

 charge on the insulated body remains at rest, electric flux will per- 



