144 HENRY A. KOWLAND 



form polarization, but to distinct regions of positive and negative 

 electrification. 



In the whole of the investigation thus far we have sought for the 

 means of explaining the phenomenon solely by means of the known 

 laws of electric induction and conduction. But many of the phenomena 

 of electric absorption indicate electrolytic action, and it is possible that 

 in many cases this is the cause of the phenomenon. The only object 

 of this note is to partially generalize Maxwell's explanation, leaving 

 the electrolytic and other theories for the future. 



