THE ETHER AND GRAVITATION 



mass and the square of their distance, leaving fewer 

 in motion between their centres. 



Objections may be made to the ethereal cause of 

 gravitation, such as the possibility of excessive heat 

 being evolved by the stoppage of the Ether atoms, 

 and it may be asked what would be the ultimate dis- 

 posal of the atoms ? In reply it may be said, that 

 there is the manifestation of heat in the earth below 

 its surface, beyond the reach of solar heat radiation, 

 the temperature increasing one degree F. for every 

 increasing depth of 100 to 200 feet, according to loca- 

 tion ; though deep sea soundings show that the bottom 

 water at a depth of five to six miles has only the tem- 

 perature of the maximum density, about 38 to 40 

 F. It must be remembered that the increase of 

 heat should be from that of the absolute zero 

 ( 273 C. 460 F.), not from our atmospheric 

 conditions. 



The ultimate disposal of the atoms and of their 

 motion would be in causing, beside heat, the molecular 

 motion in the mass, which all matter possesses ; also 

 the electric phenomena already described and the 

 electric currents that give rise to Magnetism. The 

 atoms may in part or whole continue their course as 

 Ether atoms, and finally emerge from the ponderable 

 body, moving as an Ether atom, but at a lower rate 

 of motion, until ultimately brought into rapid mo- 

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