SPACE OCCUPIED BY ELECTRIC MEDIUM. 



CHAPTER III. 



ALL SPACE NOT OCCUPIED BY OTHER MATTER IS OCCU- 

 PIED BY A UNIVERSALLY DIFFUSED AND INVISIBLE 

 ELECTRIC MEDIUM. 



TT7HILE it is popularly supposed that a vacuum 

 results from the exhaustion of the air be- 

 neath a glass bell by an air-pump, the following 

 experiment will show that this supposed vacuum is 

 pervaded by the electric ether: 



A brass knob connected with a conducting wire 

 is arranged above 

 another similar 

 knob, as shown 

 in Fig. i ; and 

 the excitation 

 from an electrical 

 machine is used 

 to induce a cur- 

 rent through the 

 void space in the 

 jar. On turning 

 the crank of the 

 machine, a cas- 

 cade of lambent 



flames appears Fif . s . 



pouring down from the upper knob. 



