CONCLUDING EEMAEKS. 179 



differing only in the degree of its intensity and quantity, 

 though for a long time they were regarded as distinct. 



The phenomenon of attraction and repulsion by amber, 

 which originated the term electricity, is as unlike that of the 

 decomposition of water by the voltaic pile, as any two natural 

 phenomena can well be. It is only because the historical 

 sequence of scientific discoveries has associated them by a 

 number of intermediate links, that they are classed under the 

 same category. What is called voltaic electricity might 

 equally, perhaps more appropriately, be called voltaic chemis- 

 try. I mention these facts to show that the distinction in the 

 name may frequently be much greater than the distinction of 

 the subject which it represents, and vice versa, not as at all 

 objecting to the received nomenclature on these points ; nor 

 do I say it would be advisable to depart from it : were we to 

 do so, inevitable confusion would result, and objections 

 equally forcible might be found to apply to our new termi- 

 nology. 



Words, when established to a certain point, become a 

 part of the social mind ; its powers and very existence de- 

 pend upon the adoption of conventional symbols ; and were 

 these suddenly departed from, or varied, according to indivi- 

 dual apprehensions, the acquisition and transmission of knowl- 

 edge would cease. Undoubtedly, neology is more permissi- 

 ble in physical science than in any other branch of knowledge, 

 because it is more progressive ; new facts or new relations 

 require new names, but even here it should be used with great 

 caution. 



Si forte necesse est 



Indiciis monstrare recentibus abdita rerum, 

 Fingere cinctutis non exaudita Cethegis, 

 Continget ; dabiturque licentia, sumpta pudenter. 



Even should the mind ever be led to dismiss the idea of 

 various forces, and regard them as the exertion of one force, 



