FRASER ON MAGNETISM. 41 



it and into each piece of metal in the battery as described ; 

 when the line is connected hij IM liey, the force is then in the 

 line, and is shown in the rela\' magnets by their attracting the 

 armatnre. Thus the motion of the aruiatui'e made by the key 

 of the operator, can be read at the same time by any number of 

 operators on any length of line, at anv number of stations having 

 similar arrangements. If a person on the moist earth take the 

 uncovered line in his hand, or place the wire of the line to his 

 tongue, he will be able to read the action of the operators on 

 the line by reason of his comiection with the earth. If he form 

 a close connection between the iine and the earth, no force can 

 pass him on the line, as the force is absorbed through him by 

 the earth, which forms a solid comiection. If he is insulated 

 from the earth and in contact with the line, he will find no effect 

 from the line unless it be broken and each end in his hand, his 

 body then forming a part of the line as a " conductor." iVb 

 current passes through him or through the line, but he feels the 

 sensation and action from the poles at the point of contact only, 

 and the Force is received in his body as in a magnet. That 

 action on him is galvanism, and is a result or cojisequence of 

 the action in the battery from the poles of its magnet, or the 

 ends of the line. If those wire ends or poles are brought into 

 contact by a fine point or Jine wire that will concentrate their 

 force, their reciprocal action will exhibit a spark of Jire. That 

 spark is electricity, and may be elicited under certain 

 conditions in all cases of " decomposition." We may thus see 

 electricUij to be merely an exhibition or an effect of that force 

 or power in atoms, or where reciprocally acting when 

 insulated from the earth ; and galvanism to be the effect 

 of an application of the atomic or " magnetic" power and action 

 in metals to a living animal, causing an increased life motion, 

 and when applied to a dead animal an artificial or induced life 

 motion. There is, therefore, no current that passes throuo-h or 

 over the telegraph line, nor yet can there be a " return current " 

 through the earth, (as is supposed.) The earth being a solid 

 moist mineral body, a battery and magnet of itself, receives and 

 absorbs the force from the line at its junction. Hence I find the 

 involuntary natural agent causing the action of the telegraph line, 



