APPENDIX II. 259 



SUMMARY OF FARADAY'S WORK. 



I will also (juote Tyndairs Suniiuary of Faraday's work sojiKnvhal 

 fully as it is indeed worth reading. It is a stimulus to each of us 

 according to his light to go and try to do likewise, even if in a smaller 

 and humbler way. 



Tyndall says : 



" When from an Alpuie height the eye of the climber ranges over 

 the mountains, he finds that for the most part they resolve themselves 

 into direct groups, each consisting of a dominant mass surrounded 

 by peaks of lesser elevation. The power which lifted the mightier 

 eminences, in nearly all cases, lifted others to an almost equal height. 

 And so it is with the discoveries of Faraday. As a general rule, the 

 dominant result does not stand alone, but forms the culminating point 

 of a vast and varied mass of enquiry. 



In this way, round about his great discovery of Magneto-Electric 

 Induction, other weighty labours grouped themselves. His investiga- 

 tions on the Extra Current ; on the Polar and other conditions of 

 Diamagnetic Bodies ; on Lines of Magnetic Force, their definite 

 character and distribution ; on the employment of the Induced Magneto- 

 Electric Current as a measure and test of Magnetic Action ; on the 

 Repulsive Phenomena of the Magnetic Field, are all, notwithstanding 

 the diversity of title, researches in the domain of Magneto-Electric 

 induction. 



Faraday's second group of Researches and Discoveries embraced 

 the chemical phenomena of the current. The dominant result here 

 is the great Law of Definite Electro-Chemical Decomposition, around 

 which are massed various Researches on Electro-Chemical Conduction, 

 and on Electrolysis both with the Machine and with the Pile. To 

 this group also belong his Analysis of the Contact Theory ; his 

 Inquiries as to the Source of Voltaic Electricity, and his final develop- 

 ment of the Chemical Theory of the Voltaic Pile. 



His third great discovery is the Magnetisation of Light, which may 

 be likened to the Weisshorn among mountains — high, beautiful, 

 and alone. 



The dominant result of his fourth grou]) of Researches is the dis- 

 covery of Diamagnetism, announced in his Memoir as the Magnetic 

 Condition of all Matter, round which are grouped his enquiries on 

 the Magnetism of Flame and Gases ; on Magne-Crystallic Action, 

 and on Atmospheric Magnetism, in its relation to the annual and 

 diurnal variation of the needle, the full significance of which is still 

 to be shown. 



These are Faraday's most massive discoveries, and upon them 

 his fame must mainly rest. But even without them, sufficient would 

 remain to secure for him a high and lasting scientific reputation. 

 We should still have his Researches on the Liquefaction of Gases ; 

 on Frictional Eie t ricity ; on the Electricity of the Gymnotus ; on 

 the Source of Power in the Hydro-Electric Machine ; on the Electro- 



