The tides as terrestrial respiration; 



their connection with the earth's 



animal heat. 



Scientists of an earlier age ascribed, as we know, the 

 phenomenon of flood and ehb tides to the attractive force 

 of the moon. This was of course a mere hypothesis, 

 but inasmuch as there was no other forth-coming expla- 

 nation of the aforesaid phenomenon it was accepted as 

 an axiom, and taught in schools as incontrovertible scien- 

 tific fact. Later on, however, attention was directed to 

 the circumstance that the moon encircles the earth only 

 once in the day, and that consequently the perpendicular 

 of its attractive force can act only once daily on any 

 spot on the earth's surface ; but the tides occur accurate- 

 ly every .six hours, that is twice daily. One naturally 

 enquires if the moon is the cause of the first tide, 

 what then is the cause of the second ? 



It is evident at a glance that this original theory of 

 lunar influence rests upon very slender foundations, and 

 it is not surprising that it was superseded by another 

 theory, which took its place in the text-books of physical 

 geography. This second hypothesis remains in force as 

 axiomatic truth to the present day. To the attraction of 

 the Moon was added that of the "Sun ; thus accounting 

 for the daily recurrence of the tides. 



I shall try to shew that this hypothetical attractive 

 force of Sun and Moon as an explanation of sea-tides is 

 simply a phantasy of pedagogues and scientists ; and for 

 that purpose I shall first turn attention to the nature of 

 the supposed attractive force itself. 



