132 ACTION OF EARTH CURRENTS ON MOON. 



the side of the earth most remote from the moon. 

 As electro-mechanical impulses act on individual 

 molecules to produce movements of masses (the 

 quantity of molecules in bodies being determined 

 by their gravitating descent toward the centre of 

 the earth), the ocean waters, covering the greater 

 part of the planet, freely yield to the action of the 

 electric currents where they circulate in similar 

 directions about the moon and earth, and flow 

 toward the moon on the side of the earth nearest 

 thereto ; while at the same time the waters on the 

 opposite side of the earth yield to the action of 

 the oppositely-directed currents above described, 

 and flow away from the moon. In accordance 

 with general electro-dynamic principles, therefore, 

 there ensues a simultaneous rise of tides on both 

 sides of the earth. 



The present popular doctrine of tides gives the 

 following explanation of these phenomena : 



" The simultaneous rise of ocean-waters on opposite 

 sides of the earth is caused by lunar attraction, which 

 draws away the solid part of the earth from the fluid 

 ocean-waters on the farthest side of the globe, and simul- 

 taneously draws away the waters from the solid part of 

 the earth on the nearest side." , 



But no reason appears to be given for this dis- 

 crimination between the gravitating action on solid 

 and liquid particles, which is equally efficient in 

 producing the motion of a falling rain-drop and 

 of a falling stone. The similar action of the 



