RADICAL DEFECTS OF THE WAVE THEORY. 107 



medium, as maintained by many distinguished 

 mathematicians of the present age.* 



* That the vibratory theory of light is not a true representation 

 of nature, would further appear from the following considerations : 



1. That it does not explain what the aether is, nor what causes 

 it to vibrate. 



2. That light is propagated in straight lines, and will not pass 

 through a bent tube ; whereas vibrations move around interposing 

 bodies, which obstruct the passage of light, as maintained by 

 Newton. 



3. That the wave theory does not explain the generation of 

 light by combustion, ignition, friction, and percussion ; how it is 

 connected with caloric and electricity; nor why ponderable 

 matter is essential to its production. 



4. That it does not explain the decomposition of light by 

 prismatic refraction, absorption, and transmission ; nor how it 

 modifies the chemical and vital properties of ponderable matter ; 

 while " it leaves the whole subject of colours, both in opaque and 

 transparent bodies, involved in profound obscurity." (Whewell.) 



5. That in adopting the theory of undulations, " we are called 

 on for acts of faith, and certain admissions must be made at 

 every step," as acknowledged by Sir John Herschel, who is 

 certainly one of its ablest advocates. 



6. That as the different colours of light depend on the species 

 of ponderable matter employed in its generation, they cannot be 

 resolved into different numbers of aetherial vibrations. 



7. That the radical defects of the wave theory have been 

 disguised by an imposing array of algebraical formulae ; while the 

 most important facts connected with its history have been over- 

 looked, or intentionally neglected; and that it is exceedingly 

 difficult to understand, as admitted by Mr. Whewell. And it 

 might as well be said that the first mover in the steam engine is 

 motion, as that light consists merely in the vibratory motions of 

 an aether. 



