32 



gradually ; tliey have been permanent, the cause must have 

 been constantly modified by them, operating gently and 

 gradually, from moment to mement, year to year, age to 

 to age, imperceptible always at every inesent period of time. 

 Imperceptible to-day, such change must nevertheless be 

 transpiring; and there are few, when the idea is once pre- 

 sented and reflected upon, who will not perhaps recall 

 some corroborating evidences of its truth, even within the 

 range of their own experience or observation. 



This wonderful svstem of chano^e extends not onlv 

 through the inferior organic creation, but includes man, 

 his histor}', his intellectual and spiritual development. 

 These higher faculties, however superior to his merely 

 physical powers, are certainly dependent upon them, and 

 upon external conditions, during the life of this physical 

 organization. 



Whatever may be thought now of the connection be- 

 tween vital, electric, and nervous or brain phenomena, and 

 the subtle gases, hydrogen and nitrogen, the usual if not 

 constant presence of one of these at least, when electrical 

 phenomena occurs, artificially or naturally, and the myste- 

 rious but constant presence of the other in vital germs and 

 organisms, together with their frequent interdependence, is 

 certainly worthy of consideration. 



" The electricity of the atmosphere, whether considered 

 in the upper or the lower strata of clouds, in its silent, 

 problematical, diurnal course, or in the explosion of the 

 lightning and thunder of the tempest, appears to stand in a 

 manifold relation to all j)henomena, of the distribution of heat, 

 of the pressure of the atmosphere, and its disturbances of 

 hydrometric exhibitions, and, probably, also of the magnetism 

 of the external crust of the earth. It exercises]a powerful in- 

 fMcnce on the ivhole animal and vegetable world, not merely by 

 meteorological processes, as precipitation of aqueous vapors, 

 and of acids and ammonical compounds, to which it gives 

 rise, but also as an electric force acting directly on the nerves, 

 and promoting the circulation of the organic juices. 



