412 YELTIER ON THE CAUSES OF THE 
of its resinovs tension; this tension increases as the body pro- — 
jects more in space. Thus mountains, buildings, and even orga- 
nized beings, have stronger resinous tensions than the ground 
on which they rest. § 12. 
6th. When we insulate a body, after having placed it in com- 
munication with the ground, it is in equilibrium of reaction in 
all its parts, and according to the distance of each of them; the 
inferior portions are less resinous, the superior portions are more 
resinous. In this state of distributive equilibrium, if this body — 
possess moveable parts like the gold leaves of an electrometer, 
they will not indicate any preponderating action. § 12. 
7th. If beneath a dry and clear sky we remove this body or 
this electrometer from the surface of the ground, or from an 
elevated body which is attached to it, the reaction of the globe | 
no longer acting in the same proportions on the length of the 
insulated rod, the resinous electricity is differently distributed 
on it; it increases towards the upper part, it diminishes to- 
wards the lower part, and the moveable leaves attached to the 
latter separate from each other in order to approach the bodies 
attached to the ground or possessing the same tension with it. 
This minus resinous tension which the gold leaves possess is 
called vitreous. §§ 12 and 13. 
Sth. If we lower the electrometer, the first equilibrium is again 
produced; the leaves are at zero. §§ 12 and 13. 
9th. If we cause it to descend below the point of equilibrium, 
the reaction of the globe increasing more on the upper part 
than on the lower, the resinous electricity is repelled from it; it 
becomes dominant in the lower portion, and the leaves diverge 
resinously. Thus it is not the atmosphere which acts on the 
electrometer, but the resinous tension of the earth. §§ 13, 14, 
25, 28. 
10th. 'To avoid complication in this experiment, the upper 
extremity must be terminated by a polished ball, in order to 
avoid the radiation and to increase the effects of induction. In 
this state the electrometer may remain twelve hours exposed 
to the air and to the winds, without manifesting the least elec- 
tricity. § 14. 
llth. Since there is no electric phenomenon without pon- 
derable matter, the radiation between two bodies differently elec- 
trified takes place so much better as these bodies, or one of them, 
evaporates more easily ; consequently the water at the surface 
