94 MATTER RECEIVES AND TRANSFERS IMPULSES. 



them into conforming currents parallel with their 

 surfaces ; thereby partially neutralizing the vibra- 

 tions against the nearest sides of the wires. The 

 vibrations impinging against their outer sides 

 then predominate, and propel the two wires to- 

 ward each other, producing the phenomenon 

 of Attraction. 



When the currents move in opposite directions 

 along the adjacent sides of electrodes, their inter- 

 ference intensifies the vibrations between them ; 

 which then predominate over the vibrations im- 

 pinging against their outer sides, and propel the 

 two wires from each other, producing the phe- 

 nomenon of Repulsion. 



Attraction and Repulsion, however diverse the 

 movements may appear, are alike the resultants 

 of joint forces, which act in similar or dissimilar 

 directions, and not of a single impulse acting 

 in one direction. 



That one body can intervene and screen 

 another from the rectilinear transmission of vi- 

 brations, is manifest by the obstruction of sound 

 and light incident to such intervention, and by 

 the production of dull sounds and shadows, si- 

 lence and darkness. 



The intervention of the moon screens a portion 

 of the earth from the vibrations of light during an 

 eclipse of the sun. 



It is the peculiar function of all matter passively 

 to receive and transfer impulses ; as is accom- 



