206 OF ELECTRICITY. CHAP. 7. 



this. After the two different electric states of 

 bodies, commonly called the positive and the 

 negative charge, were discovered by certain 

 dissimilarity in their effects,* philosophers be- 

 gan to dispute about the state of those bodies. 

 Some contending that when two different 

 electrics were rubbed together, so as to become 

 electrified, the one gained as much as the other 

 lost of a fluid matter, which they called the 

 electric fluid ; and that when, by subsequent 

 approximation, or the intervention of conductors, 

 their electric properties ceased, an equilibrium 

 of the fluid in the two bodies was again restored. 

 While others contended for two distinct fluids, 

 which had a sort of attraction for each other. 

 Upon this supposition, the electrification of 

 two different bodies by friction was a separation 

 of the two fluids, one to each electric, and the 

 equalization was a commixture again, or a dis- 

 tribution of both Electricities through both the 

 electrics. Many plausable experiments and 

 arguments were used in favour of each hypo- 

 thesis: but the former always obtained the 



* For example, the difference of appearance of the 

 luminous star on the point of a conductor, when applied to a 

 body positively charged, from that of the star on the poin 

 directed to one negatively charged. 



