60 NOMOS. 



On the sides of the wires which are opposed to each 

 other, the currents spreading from each wire clash 

 and are neutralized, and there will be in consequence 

 an absence of all action, attractive or otherwise, 

 across the space intervening between the wires ; but 

 on the sides of the wires which are not opposed to 

 each other, that is on their outsides, there will be 

 a mutual attraction between the molecules of the 

 current in the wires and the molecules of the currents 

 which are overflowing beyond the wire, and the 

 effect of this mutual attraction will be to cause the 

 wires to recede from the intervening space in which 

 there is an absence of all action. This will be the 

 effect, we say ; for after what has been said we may 

 safely assume that the molecules of the current in 

 each wire will attract and be attracted by the mole- 

 cules of the currents which proceed in the same 

 direction on the outside of the wire ; for it is a law 

 without exception that all currents passing in the 

 same direction attract each other. 



In this explanation we assume that the mutual 

 relations of the molecules are different from the 

 mutual relations of the elements of these molecules. 

 In the latter case unlikes approach each other, and 

 likes recede from each other; in the former case 

 likes approach each other, and unlikes recede from 

 each other. But all this is quite in accordance with 

 the teachings of chemistry. Thus, when soda and 

 sulphuric acid are mixed together, the dissimilar ele- 

 ments of acid and alkali attract each other and unite 



