RELATIONS OF ETHER TO MOLECULES 61 



The ratio of refraction for various transparent substances 

 when the light passes through them is as follows: Water, 

 1-333; alcohol, 1'365; brown glass, 1-530; diamond, 

 2-487; air, 1-000273; nitrogen, 1-000300; chlorine, 

 1-000772. The order which pervades all substances is 

 thus put to a test of extraordinary delicacy. The relation- 

 ships of molecules of water to the ether are so exquisitely 

 adjusted that the effect of the former on the latter is 

 uniform. The similarity of molecules of water, the regu- 

 larity that pervades them, could not be more finely tested, 

 more clearly and triumphantly held forth to view than 

 by their thus exerting the same influence on an entity 

 of sensibility so high. The sameness of that sensibility 

 is also made clearly evident. The characteristics of both 

 forms of being are determined with a minuteness of 

 likeness so inexpressibly perfect that the effects which 

 pass from one to the other are constants, that show not 

 an infinitesimal smallness of variation. Intelligence has 

 left its impress on every molecule of transparent matter, 

 on every part of the ether. 



Refraction of different colours. A ray of white light 

 is not simple. It is the advance, not of a single wave, 

 but of seven, giving the red, orange, yellow, green, blue, 

 indigo, and violet hues of the spectrum and rainbow. 

 Each ray and colour has a different refractive index, 

 and so when white light is passed through a prism they 

 are bent in a different measure towards the perpendicular, 

 and are separated. This is beautifully shown, not only 

 by the spectrum, but with homogeneous light. Lithium, 

 sodium, thallium, indium yield for the most part 

 homogeneous colours, lithium red, sodium yellow, 

 thallium a splendid green, and indium blue. When the 

 light of their flame is passed through a prism it is 

 deflected, the yellow of sodium more than the red of 



