38 FRASEE ON MAGNETISM . 



I will now give a few opinions from lute writings of Profes- 

 sors who iiave made electricity their study, and then submit an 

 opinion of my own. Dr. E. L. Youmans, in a work published 

 in 1860 — " The Co-relation and Conservation of Forces, a 

 series of expositions, by Prof. Grove, Prof. Helmholtz, Dr. 

 Mayer, Dr. Faraday, Prof. Liebeg and Dr. Carpenter," has an 

 article 011 Electricity, and says, '-From the manner in which 

 the peculiar force called Electricity is seeminglij transmitted 

 through certain bodies such as metallic wires, the term current 

 is commonly used to denote its apparent progress. It is very 

 difficult to present to the mind any theory which will give it a 

 definite conception of its modus agendi." On Magnetism he 

 says, " It is difficult to convey a definite notion of the force of 

 Magnetism, and of the mode in which it alFects other forces." 



" Good Words'' for Januarj^ 18(37, has a paper from 

 Professor Thompson " On the Atlantic Telegraph." He says, 

 " It may be regarded as probable, that there is a real 

 electric fluid, and that this fluid really flows through the wire, 

 hut in the present state of Electric Science loe cannot tell, or even 

 conjecture on any g'rouuds of possibility, whether the true, posi- 

 tive Electricity is that which is commonly so called, or whether 

 it may not be, on the contrary, that which is carried by the 

 oxygen to the zinc." 



An article in the Jan'y Xo. of Eclec. Med. Review (1867,) 

 "On Electrotysis of Metals," says: "As the velocity of the 

 battery is a source of mystery to some persons, the following 

 may not be irrevelvent, &c. " * * * Here it is supposed 

 that electricity derives its origin, or, at least, its dynamic force, 

 from the decoinposition of ivater." 



From the first that was noticed of electricity and magnetism 

 by om- savans to the present time, there appears to have been 

 nething more than an accumulation of facts. From that I can 

 £ud no definite opinion either of its origin, operation or nature, 

 further than this, that magnetism is an invisible power, the 

 effects of which are more particularly noticed in steel, under 

 certain conditions, as magnets, and generally supposed to be 

 confined to metals oidy. There is exhibited throughout all the 

 €onstitment parts of our material world an invisible [)ower or 



