152 EXCITABILITY OF WATER. 



shine transmitted to the leaves of plants, which 

 is retained in an electro-static condition in the 

 organic formations of fuel. The reaction of the 

 excitation transmitted to this carbonaceous fuel 

 takes place during combustion. 



EXCITABILITY OF THE ELECTRIC ETHER OCCUPYING THE 

 SPACES BETWEEN PARTICLES OF WATER, AND OF 

 OTHER SUBSTANCES. 



The slightest mechanical disturbance of particles 

 of water puts in motion the all-pervading electric 

 ether, which transfers the mechanical action by its 

 own motion. A basin of water serves as an elec- 

 trical machine, equally well as the little tank of 

 water with the paddle-wheel used by Mr. Joule 

 and others as a test of the electric excitation de- 

 noted heat. 



By merely dashing the fingers into the water, or 

 by pouring it from one vessel into another, the 

 excited electric ether causes bubbles to spring up 

 into beautiful hemispheres, which dance over the 

 undulating surface. 



Every water-fall excites bubbles to spring up as 

 spray into the air, and reciprocally to repel one 

 another like the pith-balls of electroscopes. The 

 minute bubbles form the mists hovering above 

 cascades, and reflect the sunbeams in overarching 

 rainbows. 



The particles of water, being ever-ready elec- 

 trodes, and freely movable in a liquid state, yield 

 to the slightest vibration of the electric ether. It 



