377 
ARTICLE XIV. 
An Inquiry into the Cause of the Electric Phenomena of the 
Atmosphere, and on the Means of collecting their Manifes- 
tations. By M. A. PEuTIER. 
[From the .dnnales de Chimie et de Physique, Avril, 1842. ] 
INTRODUCTION. 
1. THE different branches of the physical sciences which con- 
stitute meteorology are composed of observations very difficult 
to be collected, by reason of their number and of the fixed hours 
which they often require; therefore observers have divided the 
work amongst themselves according to their taste, their locality 
_ or their particular position. The great number of meteorologists 
who are occupied with these questions have brought forward 
_ those masses of magnetic, barometric, thermometric, hygrome- 
tric and aérian observations, which together form the immense 
collections under the burden of which those who wish to reduce 
them and obtain from them useful laws are overwhelmed. 
2. When we consider the observations of the aqueous and 
igneous meteors unprejudiced and without a preconceived 
theory, we are surprised at the unsatisfactory nature of the ex- 
planations which are given of them, and at the blanks which 
have only been filled up by hypothetical and often contradictory 
assertions. All that relates to electric phznomena appears 
still to belong to the infancy of science, since we are obliged to 
have recourse to the creation of substances endued with forces, 
instead of attributing meteors to a general cause which governs 
all natural phenomena. This also proves, and for the thou- 
sandth time, how difficult it is to divest ourselves of anterior ideas 
which we have been in the uncontrolled habit of using, and 
which have served to form the scientific language which we use. 
3. There are three difficulties to overcome, when we wish to 
reconsider an ancient science the theory of which has been 
generally received. The first is to bring into doubt the received 
ideas respecting the cause of the phenomena; the second is the 
language which they have produced and which must be changed ; 
the third, in short, is to present a new theory which answers to 
all the known phenomena; a theory which will always be re- 
VOL, III. PART XI. Zc 
