58 New Theories of the Great Forces. 



the governing Force resident in the sun, and 

 in the earth-core. The atmosphere thus not 

 only furnishes the field of operation for the 

 manifold Force, co-operating between the sun 

 and earth, but is itself the medium and instru- 

 ment of the operations. 



The vito-magnetic power under its Protean 

 forms, styled " Vital Forces," and " The Phy- 

 sical Forces," works in the atmosphere and 

 is the source of nearly all its phenomena. It 

 causes and directs movements in every pro- 

 vince of nature. Nothing else has so inti- 

 mate relations with animal and vegetable life 

 and growth. It may be considered as consti- 

 tuting the inherent virtue of the atmosphere. 



Among the varying manifestations in which 

 this agent is disclosed to us, within and be- 

 yond the atmosphere, may be enumerated 

 the following, viz. : i, Linear lightning ; 2, 

 Ball lightning ; 3, The flash with reverbera- 

 tions ; 4, Heat lightning ; 5, Aurora ; 6, 

 Frictional or mechanical ; 7, Magnetic ; 8, 

 Vital ; 9, St. Elmo's Fires ; 10, The exag- 

 gerated wave which bears destruction in its 

 pathway; n, That disclosed by rain, hail, 

 snow, and fog; 12, Sunlight, and sun-heat; 

 13, Static, or atmospheric; 14, Zodiacal 

 light; 15, Corona, etc., etc. 



