1-86 EFFECTS OF ACTINISM 



to be more strongly manifested when the envelope of 

 light, extending like an atmosphere to the sun, is thrown 

 into great agitation, and waves, and great hollows 

 solar spots are produced. There is some indication of 

 the existence of a third condition on the sun's surface, 

 to which probably belongs the mighty chemical power 

 which we call actinism. Electricity may be, as some 

 have speculated, the exciting agent; a constant and 

 violent Aurora Borealis may exist on the sun, and 

 under the excitation of this force the others named may 

 be quickened into full activity. 



That actinism is one of the great powers of creation 

 we have abundant proof. Nearly all the phenomena of 

 chemical change which have been referred to light, are 

 now proved to be dependent upon actinic power ; and 

 beyond the influence which has been ascertained to be 

 exerted by it upon all inorganic bodies, we shall have 

 occasion to show still further the dependence of the 

 vegetable and animal worlds upon its agency. The in- 

 fluence of the solar beams on vegetation is proved by 

 common experience ; the closer examination of its 

 action on vegetable life is reserved for the chapter de- 

 voted to its phenomena. Of its influence on animals 

 nothing is very correctly known ; but some early expe- 

 riments prove that they, like other organised bodies, are 

 subject to all the radiant forces, as indeed, independent 

 of experiment, every observation must teach. Cer- 

 tain it is, that organisation can take place only where 

 the sun's rays can penetrate : where there is unchanging 

 darkness, there we find all the silence of death. Pro- 

 metheus stole fire from heaven, and gave the sacred gift 

 to man, as the most useful to him of all things in his 

 necessities : by the aid of it he could temper the seve- 

 rities of climate, render his food moie digestible and 

 agreeable, and illuminate the hours of darkness. So 

 says the beautiful fiction of the Grecian mind, which 

 appears as the poetic dream or prophetic glance of a 



