NOMOS. 59 



for the same reason that the molecules of dissimilar 

 salts repel each other. 



But it is doubtful whether a real repellent influence 

 is at work in either case, and certainly such influence 

 is not necessary to explain the phenomena. The exjgt 

 Simple attraction will explain the pheno- ence of true 



n . . .111 electrical re- 



mena of crystallization, and it will also puisionques- 

 explain why the wires recede from each 

 other when their currents are contrary. What are 

 the simple facts in the latter case ? The facts are, 

 that each wire conveys a current which overflows as 

 far as the other wire, and the parts surrounding. 

 The results are also simple ; for, overflowing in this 

 manner and meeting, each current must exercise a 

 certain amount of neutralizing influence upon the 

 other. It follows, also, that this neutralization will 

 take place principally in the space between the wires, 

 and that there will be little or no such neutralization 

 beyond the wires. There will be little or none 

 beyond the wires, because the currents overflowing 

 from either wire in this direction cannot be interfered 

 with by the current overflowing from the other wire 

 cannot be interfered with, because the currents 

 overflowing from each wire into the intervening 

 space had neutralized each other, and left a space over 

 which no current could pass. And being so, it is 

 doubtful whether a real repellent influence is con- 

 cerned in causing the divergence of the wires, for 

 this divergence maybe accounted for, with equal readi- 

 ness, by the attractive forces which must be at work. 



