Vital Physics. 49 



some condition external to the oceanic atmosphere. 

 This, then, is the primary condition of motion in the 

 planetary system, as the result of two forces possessed of 

 unequal degrees of acceleration. It will be objected 

 that if the oscillation is so great in proportion between 

 the moon and the earth, or the sun and the planets, as 

 from the line F E to the line C D, that our astronomical 

 instruments would have long since detected it. Such, 

 no doubt, would be the case, or even a i,ooo,oooth part 

 of the implied distance. But the diagram (No. II.) is 

 intentionally exaggerated for the purpose of more clearly 

 indicating the kind of motion, and not its degree. With 

 two antagonizing forces, as here maintained, let a tap be 

 given to the sphere J at the point I, in the direction of J, 

 and immediately the balance of equipoise is cast into a 

 new direction, and in the onward motion, the sphere 

 or planet, would ever be moving in advance of its true 

 centre, and would describe a small arc in advance of 

 the true centre, whilst revolving round its own axis and 

 the sun. But inasmuch as these two forces perfectly 

 equipoise each other, no new line of force will ever be lost, 

 but sustained for ever according to the direction in which it 

 is given, because the centre of equilibrium is not dependent 

 upon the outside force or tangent, but upon mutual and 

 unchanging antagonism inter se, and in whatever direction 

 that antagonism starts in that direction it will continue, 

 because there is no new outside force to interfere with the 

 direction once started, whether that direction be from east 

 to west or from west to east. 



This view rests upon the assumption that axoidal and 

 orbital motion are the result of the antagonism of real and 

 active forces, and also that, without direct antagonism 

 between forces, orbital and axoidal motion have no existence. 



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