SKCT. XXV1U. INFLUENCE OF ELECTRICITY. 271 



dialects. In all of these cases it may be inferred, that 

 the nations speaking the languages in question are de- 

 scended from the same stock ; but the probability of a 

 common origin is much greater in the Indo-European 

 nations, whose, languages, such as the Sanscrit, Greek, 

 Latin, German, &c., have an affinity both in structure 

 and correspondence of vocables. In many tongues* not 

 the smallest resemblance can be traced ; length of time, 

 however, may have obliterated origiAd -identity. The 

 conclusion drawn from the whole investigation is, that 

 although the distribution of organized beings does not 

 follow the direction of the isothermal lines, temperature 

 has a very great influence on their physical development. 

 The heat of the air is so intimately connected with its 

 electrical condition, that electricity must also affect the 

 distribution of plants and animals over the face of the 

 earth, the more so as it seems to have a great share in 

 the functions of animal and vegetable life. It is the sole 

 cause of many atmospheric and terrestrial phenomena, 

 and performs an important part in the economy of nature. 



SECTION XXVIII. 



Of ordinary Electricity, generally called Electricity of Tension Methods 

 of exciting Bodies Transference Electrics and Non-ElectricsLaw of 

 its Intensity Distribution Tension Electric Heat and Light Atmos- 

 pheric Electricity Its Cause Electric Clouds Back Stroke Violent 

 Effects of Lightning Its Velocity Phosphorescence Phosphorescent 

 Action of Solar Spectrum Aurora. 



ELECTRICITY is one of those imponderable agents 

 pervading the earth and all substances, witl^lt affecting 

 their volume or temperature, or even givin^my visible 

 sign of its existence when in a latent state ; but when 

 elicited developing forces capable of producing the most 

 sudden, violent, and destructive effects in some cases, 

 while in others their action, though less energetic, is of 

 indefinite and uninterrupted continuance. These modi- 

 fications of the electric force, incidentally depending 

 upon the manner in which it is excited, present phe- 

 nomena of great diversity, but yet so connected as to 

 justify the conclusion that they originate in a common 

 principle. 



