126 CURRENTS ABOUT MOLECULES. 



orbital revolutions of the planets, reaching even 

 the very centre of the earth. 



The circulation of currents about the exterior 

 of the globe of the earth has been considered by 

 an eminent philosopher as producing the polariza- 

 tion of the interior molecules, 



as re P resented in Fi g- 43; 

 neutralizing the interior cur- 



\ ~ 1 rents in opposite directions 



X^v.^y^'^ "N. T 



s~*\{ )/ about their nearest sides, by 

 clasping them all in one ex- 



Figt 43 . terior closed circuit, as indi- 



cated by the directions of the arrows. With such 

 unstable electro-static counterbalancings of oppo- 

 sitely-circulating molecular currents, it may be 

 readily imagined that a sudden violent explosive 

 separation of molecules of carbon in gunpowder 

 and percussion powder may ensue, on breaking 

 the exterior closed circuit with the blow of a 

 hammer. 



