2 M. Prechtel on the Fundamental State of the (Jury, 
an endless magnet is formed, which possesses separate poles 
throughout its circumference, or heteronomous poles alternately 
succeeding each other. For these experiments the softest iron 
wire should be employed. 
3. When the most perfect circular form is given to an endless 
wire, and it is suspended vertically, it will be found when exa- 
mined by means of a very small magnet,* that the lower part 
has acquired a north pole, and the upper a south pole. By 
applying the pole of a magnet for some time to any part of this 
circular wire, it will be found that this ring is so magnetized, that 
its periphery presents two heteronomous poles diametrically op- 
posite, as may be seen by Pl. XIII. fig. 1. 7% 2 are points of in- 
difference. It sometimes happens that the heteronomous poles 
are placed from 90° to 90°, as in fig. 2; then the points of indif- 
ference are 727i. 
4. When an endless wire is bent in a quadrangular form, aft 
in fig. 3, and it is magnetized by applying the heteronomous poles 
of a magnet to the angles a and 6; then the four angles are mag- 
netized in such manner that the heteronomous poles succeed 
each other alternately, as is shown by fig. 3. If the magnet is~ 
sufficiently strong, and the iron wire very soft and even, then this 
magnetic arrangement will take place by the application of a 
single magnetic pole to one angle, for example, to the angle d. 
5. When an endless wire is bent in the form of an octagon, and 
we proceed as before, 1. e. by applying the heteronomous poles of 
a magnet to the two angles a, 6, fig.4; the magnetic poles as- 
sume a similar arrangement, 1. e. the heteronomous poles placed 
at the angles succeed each other alternately, or each north pole 
is followed by a south pole, or vice versa. This will take place 
in every polygon. Ifthese magnetic arrangements be represented 
as in the figure, by arranging magnetic needles, one half of these 
needles will be directed to the mght, and the other half to the 
left. These facts prove that magnetic polarity has a tendency 
to establish itself in a right line; and it is seen that in the endless 
polygonal magneta simple magnetic impulse, upon a single point 
of iis periphery, produces a quantity of heteronomous poles, 
which succeed each other alternately upon this periphery. 
6. This arrangement of the needles indicates the elementary 
action of each side of the polygon; this side representing a linear 
magnet. Nevertheless this elementary action can be observed 
only when the sides of the polygon possess sensible length, so 
that a very small magnetic needle can follow the elementary or 
separate action of the side, or of this linear magnet. Let us 
suppose that these linear magnets, forming the sides of the 
polygon, are extremely small (1), which will happen when the 
diameter of the polygon is extremely small, or the number of its. 
* I find that small magnetic needles from half to one-eighth of an inch long, are 
extremely delicate in cases of small quantities of magnetism, even when the heterono- 
mous poles are very near each other, if 
